Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a serious condition that affects the brain. It causes problems with memory and thinking. Let's break down what happens in the brain with this disease in simpler terms:
Amyloid Plaques: One major problem in Alzheimer’s is that a sticky substance called amyloid-beta builds up outside brain cells. These clumps, or plaques, mess up how brain cells talk to each other. This can cause swelling and damage to the cells.
Neurofibrillary Tangles: Inside the brain cells, a protein called tau gets messed up and forms tangles. These tangles can block important pathways in the cells that help them work properly.
Neuroinflammation: When there are amyloid plaques and tau tangles, it turns on helper cells in the brain called microglia. Normally, these cells protect the brain, but if they stay active for too long, they can cause inflammation. This inflammation can kill more brain cells and worsen the disease.
Cholinergic Dysfunction: Alzheimer’s also causes a big loss of nerve cells that make a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical helps with learning and memory. So, when these cells are damaged, it leads to memory problems.
Oxidative Stress: Another issue in Alzheimer’s is that there is too much oxidative stress in the brain. This means the cells get hurt from harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These can damage cell parts, including membranes, DNA, and proteins, making the disease worse.
Genetic Factors: Some people have genes that can increase their chance of getting Alzheimer’s. For example, a specific gene called APOE ε4 is linked to a higher risk. Knowing about these genes can help us understand why some people might get the disease.
In short, Alzheimer’s is more than just forgetting things. It's a complicated disease that includes plaques, tangles, swelling in the brain, problems with important chemicals, stress on the brain cells, and genetic risks. Understanding these parts is really important for finding better treatments in the future.
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a serious condition that affects the brain. It causes problems with memory and thinking. Let's break down what happens in the brain with this disease in simpler terms:
Amyloid Plaques: One major problem in Alzheimer’s is that a sticky substance called amyloid-beta builds up outside brain cells. These clumps, or plaques, mess up how brain cells talk to each other. This can cause swelling and damage to the cells.
Neurofibrillary Tangles: Inside the brain cells, a protein called tau gets messed up and forms tangles. These tangles can block important pathways in the cells that help them work properly.
Neuroinflammation: When there are amyloid plaques and tau tangles, it turns on helper cells in the brain called microglia. Normally, these cells protect the brain, but if they stay active for too long, they can cause inflammation. This inflammation can kill more brain cells and worsen the disease.
Cholinergic Dysfunction: Alzheimer’s also causes a big loss of nerve cells that make a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical helps with learning and memory. So, when these cells are damaged, it leads to memory problems.
Oxidative Stress: Another issue in Alzheimer’s is that there is too much oxidative stress in the brain. This means the cells get hurt from harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These can damage cell parts, including membranes, DNA, and proteins, making the disease worse.
Genetic Factors: Some people have genes that can increase their chance of getting Alzheimer’s. For example, a specific gene called APOE ε4 is linked to a higher risk. Knowing about these genes can help us understand why some people might get the disease.
In short, Alzheimer’s is more than just forgetting things. It's a complicated disease that includes plaques, tangles, swelling in the brain, problems with important chemicals, stress on the brain cells, and genetic risks. Understanding these parts is really important for finding better treatments in the future.