Posts Tagged Alzheimer’s Disease

Last time, we looked at the causes and symptoms of dementia. Now, let’s take a closer look at Alzheimer’s disease. The causes and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease stems from a protein, called beta-amyloid, building up in the brain between nerve cells to from what are known as plaques. There is another protein, called tau, that accumulates in the brain and forms what are called tangles. This results in the neurons of the brain shrinking, and eventually, dying. As with Lewy body dementia, scientists do not know precisely what causes the initial onset of the protein build ups that lead to Alzheimer’s disease. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may include: Short-term memory problems, and eventually, loss of long-term memory Confusion Impaired judgment Repeating the same questions and statements Getting lost, even in familiar surroundings Personality changes Changes in sleep patterns, such as sleeping during the day and being awake

Many people think that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are interchangeable terms for the same medical condition. This is not the case. Dementia is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of conditions associated with memory loss. Alzheimer’s disease, on the other hand, is a specific type of dementia. Let’s look at some of the similarities and differences between the two. The causes and symptoms of dementia. Dementia, in general, is caused by damage to cells in the brain resulting in the damaged cells inability to function the way they normally would. There are a variety of factors that can lead to brain cell damage, and these factors are what often distinguish one type of dementia from another. For instance, what is known as vascular dementia is typically caused by a stroke, whereas Lewy body dementia is caused by protein deposits (Lewy bodies) forming in sections of the brain responsible for