How Does Alzheimer's Affect The Brain?
Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. As the most common cause of dementia, this neurodegenerative disease affects millions of people worldwide. However, one of the main questions surrounding the disease persists: how does Alzheimer’s affect the brain?
To better grasp the impact of Alzheimer’s on a person, we may need to take a closer look at the changes Alzheimer’s has on the brain itself. These include the formation of plaques and thinning of certain brain areas. We can then look at how behaviors and emotions might change in a person with Alzheimer’s to create a treatment plan that works for them. Continue reading to learn more about how Alzheimer’s affects the brain and how symptoms might arise.
What is Alzheimer's disease, and what are its risk factors?
Alzheimer's disease is a common neurological disorder that is estimated to affect 152 million people globally by the year 2050. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, affecting their thought, memory, and language abilities. There is currently no cure for the disease, but palliative medications are available that can help treat mild to moderate symptoms and slow the rate of cognitive decline.
Causes and signs
Alzheimer's disease disrupts communication among neurons, the nerve cells that transmit messages in the brain. The disease is also linked to the buildup of specific proteins known as plaques and tangles, which may worsen the brain's functioning.
Early warning signs of Alzheimer's include forgetting things more often, difficulty planning or solving problems, and struggling with familiar daily tasks. As the disease progresses, the symptoms can get worse, affecting how a person functions and ultimately leading to severe Alzheimer's disease.
Potential risk factors and complications
We still do not fully understand what causes Alzheimer's disease, but certain factors may increase the chances of a person getting it. For example, genes may play a role, as some genes increase the risk of getting this disease. Age may also be an important factor, with the risk of Alzheimer's increasing after age 65.
Apart from Alzheimer's, there are other forms of dementia, like vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia, which can also affect thinking abilities and cause memory loss. Research also suggests that habits such as not exercising, smoking, and being obese might increase the risk of getting Alzheimer's and other similar dementias.
Other risk factors
Besides the several potential factors mentioned above, some research suggests a link between Alzheimer’s and the following factors:
- Down syndrome
- Head injuries
- Hearing loss
- Sedentary lifestyle
General treatment plans for those affected
While we do not yet have a cure for Alzheimer's disease, treatments focus on managing the symptoms, slowing down the progression of the disease, and improving the life quality of those affected. Typical treatment options may include medications that help manage cognitive decline and behavioral symptoms.
Alzheimer’s medications can include cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists. Non-medication therapies, like mental stimulation and physical exercise, may also be important parts of a treatment plan. Healthcare providers may also provide support and education to patients and their families to help them manage the challenges related to Alzheimer's.
How does Alzheimer’s disease affect the brain?
Alzheimer's is a severe condition that causes changes in a healthy brain, leading to problems with thinking skills and memory. These changes in the brain structure can greatly affect a person's life. Let's look at how Alzheimer's disease may damage the brain with the creation of plaques, the development of tangles, shrinkage of the hippocampus, and thinning of the cortex.
Formation of plaques
One feature of Alzheimer's is the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain. These plaques form when protein fragments called beta-amyloid accumulate between brain cells. Beta-amyloid comes from a larger protein called the amyloid precursor protein, which is usually harmless. However, in Alzheimer's disease, this protein develops in an abnormal way, creating toxic fragments that group together to form plaques. These plaques can interrupt communication between brain cells and cause inflammation, which eventually leads to the death of the cells.
Development of tangles
Another significant change in a brain affected by Alzheimer's is the development of neurofibrillary tangles. These tangles are created by abnormal twists of a protein called tau. Tau normally helps maintain the structure of brain cells. But in Alzheimer's, tau proteins become faulty and begin to pile up, forming tangles inside the brain cells. These tangles disrupt the transport of nutrients and other important molecules within the cells, causing the cells to stop working properly and eventually die.
Hippocampus shrinkage leads to memory loss and confusion
The hippocampus, a part of the brain that helps form new memories, may be heavily affected by Alzheimer's. As brain cells die and tangles pile up, the hippocampus brain tissue shrinks significantly. This shrinkage affects its function, leading to memory loss and confusion, which are among the early symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Cortical thinning
In addition to the hippocampus, Alzheimer's may also cause the thinning of the cortex, or the loss of brain tissue, particularly in areas that handle thinking skills, judgment, and language. As the cerebral cortex becomes thinner, these areas of the brain lose their ability to process information, which can cause a steady decline in thinking abilities.
Alzheimer's disease can bring about multiple changes in the brain, potentially leading to significant challenges in a person's life. Scientists have discovered these distinct brain signatures in individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's. These unique patterns, detected using advanced imaging technology, show an increased rate of aging in brain networks, even before memory loss begins. This breakthrough could help in earlier detection and intervention for the disease.
How does Alzheimer's disease lead to emotional and behavioral changes?
As Alzheimer's disease progresses, it may do more than just affect a person's memory. It also might impact their ability to communicate, understand their emotions, and respond to their environment. As a result, people with Alzheimer's often experience changes in their emotions and behavior.
One reason for these changes is that Alzheimer's often weakens a person's ability to understand and interact with their surroundings. As the disease makes it harder for the brain to process information, individuals may become confused, agitated, or have sudden changes in mood. Expressing themselves may also become more difficult, leading to feelings of frustration and isolation. This can lead to more anxiety, depression, and irritability, as well as a withdrawal from social situations and activities they once enjoyed. The National Institute on Aging provides suggestions to help manage these changes in personality and behavior.
How does Alzheimer’s affect the brain parts responsible for emotion and behavior?
Another factor that may cause emotional and behavioral changes in people with Alzheimer's is the direct damage to brain cells. As the disease progresses, it may affect different parts of an otherwise healthy human brain, including those responsible for understanding emotions and controlling behavior. This can cause shifts in personality, less control over emotions, and a reduced ability to control impulses. As a result, individuals might have sudden emotional outbursts, extreme mood swings, or behave inappropriately.
Is therapy effective for people affected by Alzheimer's disease?
Although therapy may not be a direct treatment for Alzheimer's disease, it could offer valuable support for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. However, those with Alzheimer’s or those caring for loved ones affected by the disease may not have in-person options easily available to them. One of the main benefits of online therapy is its availability for those who live remotely or are unable to travel easily.
Virtual therapy for caregivers and patients with Alzheimer’s disease
With virtual therapy, patients and caregivers may be able to connect with a mental health professional from the comfort of their own home. Additionally, research has shown that online therapy may provide valuable support and expertise to those living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers with the added benefit of treatment being convenient from anywhere and at any time.
Takeaway
How does Alzheimer’s affect the brain and cause memory loss?
Alzheimer’s disease, named for Alois Alzheimer, the German neuropathologist to first identify it, is a neurodegenerative disease affecting the normal functioning of many neurons, eventually resulting in neuronal cell death. Alzheimer’s gradually shrinks and destroys areas of the brain responsible for thinking, memory, language, and social behavior. It is currently ranked as the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and is ranked as the leading cause of dementia in older adults.
What are the main causes of Alzheimer's disease?
In most cases, there is not a single cause for Alzheimer’s disease. Many researchers believe that possible risk factors for having Alzheimer’s are age, family history, genetics, and other factors like lifestyle habits. Environmental factors that may lead to Alzheimer's and other dementias include unmanaged chronic conditions such as vascular disease and high blood pressure, alcohol misuse, smoking, physical inactivity, lack of mental stimulation, and lack of social connection.
Recently, researchers have found that a strong genetic risk may lie in the microglial cells of the brain, as microglia that express the AOE4 gene are unable to metabolize lipids normally. This can lead to an excess buildup of lipids that interferes with the ability of nearby neurons to communicate with each other.
How does Alzheimer's affect your everyday life?
Personal experience can vary, but Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that leads to greater cognitive impairment over time. The first signs and very early stages of this disease may involve forgetting things like where you left the keys, and that you were going to meet a friend for coffee. As brain function becomes more impaired, dementia symptoms become worse, and the person with Alzheimer’s gradually loses their ability to function independently.
How does Alzheimer's affect behavior?
Unlike the typical memory loss of healthy aging, Alzheimer’s disease involves the buildup of amyloid plaques in different brain regions, leading to unpredictable behavior, especially in the more advanced stages. The individual may become aggressive, lose inhibitions and trust for others, wander, and experience delusions.
What happens if Alzheimer's is not treated?
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments that can help slow the rapid spread of the disease. Alzheimer’s and related dementias are brain disorders that can become debilitating quickly if symptoms are not addressed. A person with Alzheimer’s that is untreated may be at risk of social isolation, household accidents, becoming victims of crime, and even hurting their loved ones with physical violence. A large part of treatment for Alzheimer’s is modifying the individual’s environment for safety, keeping them connected and engaged, and addressing their mental health.
How does Alzheimer's affect memory?
Alzheimer’s disease slowly destroys memory in its patients. By the time a person or loved one notices mild cognitive impairment, it has often already started impacting daily life and activities. A person with Alzheimer’s can find it difficult to remember names and dates, and eventually may forget the names of their spouse and children. Judgment can become poor, and personal safety compromised. In later stages, they lose their ability to care for their own bodily needs, and require continual care.
How is the Alzheimer's brain different from the normal brain?
The Alzheimer’s brain shrinks over time, neurons die and lose connections. This is due to the buildup of a chemical called amyloid precursor protein (APP). People develop Alzheimer's as this protein interacts with a protein called tau and abnormal tau accumulates in the living brain into what are called amyloid plaques. These beta amyloid clumps typically start in the hippocampus, and then spread to other regions of the brain, and may be seen on brain scans. Glucose metabolism also declines in brain cells called the microglia and astrocytes.
Other parts of the brain involved can include the frontal lobe, temporal lobes, the limbic system, entorhinal complex, and parietal lobes. The specific areas affected can affect how symptoms occur, as each area controls different actions. Blood vessels can become involved in these blockages, and changes in blood flow may further affect the brain. Those with severe Alzheimer's disease have many abnormal clumps in the brain, impacting how neurons transmit messages.
How is Alzheimer's disease different from most other mental illnesses?
Alzheimer's disease is an unusual mental illness in that it is not considered a mental illness at all by most experts. Rather, it is considered a disease of the brain that can cause symptoms that present in a way that is similar to certain mental health conditions.
Can Alzheimer's be cured?
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, and often by the time Alzheimer’s noticed by a family member is recognized and receives Alzheimer's diagnosis by a provider, complex brain changes have already occurred. Treatment for Alzheimer's typically includes medication to slow down symptoms, and treat existing symptoms. Another important aspect of treatment is creating a safe, supportive, and stable environment for the patient.
What sense is most affected by Alzheimer's disease?
All senses can be impacted by Alzheimer's, and as disease progression presents differently in different people, which is most affected can vary between cases.
- Previous Article
- Next Article