Alzheimer's
Psychology 1st period
Definition
Alzheimer's disease is progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cell, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes.
How Alzheimer's affects the brain
Massive cell loss affects the brain and makes it shrink. The cortex shrivels up and damages areas involved in thinking, planning and remembering. Plaques build up between the nerve cells. Dead and dying nerve cells contain tangles, which are made up of twisted strands of another protein.
Solutions
There is no cure, but drugs and non-drugs treatments may help with both cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Researchers are looking for new treatments to alter the course of the disease and improve the quality of life for people with dementia.
Medications
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Memantine
Both of these medications help treat memory loss in Alzheimer's
How Alzeimer's affects the brain after treatments
Several medications temporarily help improve the symptoms of Alzheimer's. The medications help improve neurotransmitters in the brain.
More research is still being done since this is such a new problem.