Alzheimer s Effects On The Brain - 1133 Words

Alzheimer’s is a disease where neurotransmitters, acetylcholine, or the brain’s chemicals break connections with other nerve cells causing the cells to die off, the effects of this are irreversible. The loss of these cells result in loss of thinking and language skills, unpredictable behavioral changes and eventually the inability to carry out the simplest tasks. Although there is no known cause for Alzheimer’s, researchers have found a genetic link. Alzheimer’s first symptoms usually appear when a person is between forty and fifty years of age. Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that initiates in the brain, drastically decreasing the quality of life as well as life expectancy in millions of people around the world. As Alzheimer’s†¦show more content†¦Once the disease hits the hypothalamus life expectancy is greatly reduced because a person becomes unable to tell when they need sustenance. This is all caused by abnormal deposits of proteins from amyloid plaques and tau tangles throughout the brain, and once-healthy neurons stop functioning, lose connections with other neurons, and die (Site this). Finally the brain has shrunk and damage is widespread throughout the brain. Diagnosing the disease is the first step to finding out what do to next. To be diagnosed one must be examined by a doctor who will run many tests. Doctors use several methods and tools to help determine whether a person who is having memory problems has â€Å"possible Alzheimer’s dementia† (dementia may be due to another cause) or â€Å"probable Alzheimer’s dementia† (no other cause for dementia can be found) (Alzheimer s Foundation of America, 2015). A test they use to rule out possible Alzheimer’s dementia is by conducting a memory test with problem solving, attention span, and language. Once they have ruled out possible Alzheimer’s they ask the family about overall medical history, if one is able to carry out actives of daily living and if there has been any behavioral changes, as well as testing the blood and urine to rule out any deficiency a person may have. The last tests performed are the