Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid

'Alzheimer's Disease' (AD) is characterized by affected parts of the brain that control memory, thought and language. It is a slowly progressive disease which develops in the brain by attacking the patient's abilities of planning, reasoning, perception, and language. The cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown, yet scientists believe that accumulated beta-amyloid protein is the main cause behind this brain disease, which leads death of nerve cells. It is a type of dementia that occurs when the patient crosses his 60s. It is noted that certain chemical reaction brings out shrinkage of the brain, which leads to cluttering of the entwined cells. In 1906, Alois Alzheimer, a German neuropathologist and psychiatrist, first discovered this incurable disease. Hence, this terminal and degenerative disease was named after this German scientist. It is reported that until now more than 35 million people throughout the world are suffering from Alzheimer's disease. A reputed survey claims that by 2050 this number will increase up to 107 million.

As described earlier the Alzheimer's disease occurs after the age of 60. Difficulty in performing even the daily tasks, loss of memory, disorientation to time and place, language problems, decreased or poor judgment, changes in mood or behavior, misplacing things, changes in personality, problems with abstract thinking, and loss of initiative are some of the warning signs of this brain disease. The patient's simple forgetfulness is acutely noticeable. His normal activities like hygiene, dressing, or going to the marketplace are disturbed. Gradually, the person depends on others to execute even the regular simple tasks like an infant. Sadly enough, there is no cure for Alzheimer's, but the available treatments are sufficed to alleviate some of the symptoms and thus this can reduce the patient's sufferings.

The diagnostic tools like SPECT and PET scans confirm the AD that display temporal lobe's inability to function actively. The patient's history, clinical observations, and collateral history from relatives are helpful to diagnose this disease. Memory testing with intellectual functioning assessment shows the state of the disease. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis for tau proteins or amyloid beta is another criterion to diagnose the disease. The epidemiological study has put forth relationship between some modifiable things like diet, intellectual activities in others, or pharmaceutical products, cardiovascular risk, and a population's possibility of developing AD. However, the further ongoing research along with the clinical trials will determine whether these things can assist in preventing the AD.

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