| The true causes of Alzheimers disease remain elusive. | | | | the brain in Alzheimers disease. |
| However, researchers have made progress in | | | | The plaque deposits are sticky patches in the brain |
| understanding the neurological roots of this debilitating | | | | which contain beta amyloid protein. Plaque blocks |
| condition. | | | | communication pathways between neurons, which |
| The disease is named after Alois Alzheimer, who was | | | | results in the memory problems and learning inabilities |
| the first to identify the peculiar plaques and tangles in | | | | associated with Alzheimers disease. |
| the brain, which is characteristic of the illness. Till the | | | | The degree of cognitive impairment depends on the |
| final decades of the twentieth century, Alzheimers | | | | amount of plaque present. Plaque acts by interfering |
| could be diagnosed accurately only by a post-mortem | | | | with the normal functioning of acetylcholine, which |
| examination. | | | | helps to transmit nerve messages. |
| Nowadays, scientists are beginning to uncover | | | | Treatment for Alzheimers disease involves using |
| precisely what is happening and why those | | | | acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which works by |
| characteristic tangles and plaques crop up in the brain. | | | | blocking enzymes that consume the acetylcholine. |
| Many of the symptoms of Alzheimers disease are | | | | This medication is effective during the early stages |
| caused by neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. | | | | of the disease before too much plaque has already |
| Microscopic filaments clog the neurons. These | | | | built up. |
| filaments are made up of an abnormal kind of Tau | | | | Some research seems to indicate that plaques cause |
| protein. | | | | tangles. One study took proteins from mice to |
| In a normal brain, Tau protein bonds into microtubules | | | | eliminate the plaque-causing beta amyloid. They found |
| and enables transmission of messages from one | | | | that the proteins got rid of the tangles as well. Similar |
| neuron to another. But in an Alzheimer brain, instead | | | | effects have been brought about by other |
| of bonding into message pathways, Tau protein | | | | medications as well. |
| bonds with itself. And the neuron messages go | | | | Others believe that both plaques and tangles are the |
| nowhere. | | | | result of other processes. One possible culprit is |
| Since the neurons are clogged, signals from the | | | | swollen axons. Axons are critical for transmitting |
| environment are no longer transmitted the way they | | | | messages between neurons. When axons swell, they |
| should be. That is why severe cognitive impairment is | | | | may block message transmission and perhaps lead to |
| one of the symptoms of Alzheimers disease. | | | | the plaques and tangles which bring on Alzheimers |
| Scientists speculate that Tau protein malfunction | | | | disease. |
| which results in neurofibrillary tangles is caused by | | | | Scientists are working hard at uncovering the causes |
| beta amyloid protein, but this is yet to be | | | | of Alzheimers disease, which may sooner or later |
| conclusively proved. | | | | lead to a comprehensive cure for this dreaded |
| It is beta amyloid protein that causes plaques | | | | condition. |
| between neurons, which is the other main damage to | | | | |