Ad An Unidentified Mystery - 1224 Words

AD was first identified in 1906, however, the research only began in the past 30 years. Research into AD and the exact physiological changes that trigger the development of AD still remain an unidentified mystery. There are some links they are those rare, inherited forms caused by a known genetic mutation. (Dekkers, W., Marcel, O. R. 2006) Those links are part of family history those who have a parent, or sibling with Alzheimer s are at a higher percentage of developing AD. (Dekkers, W., Marcel, O. R. 2006) AD is not a regular part of growing older, however, it is one of the highest risk factor for the disease. Currently, there are millions affected by AD worldwide and the number is expected to rise affecting over 106 million by†¦show more content†¦There are several noticeable signs of AD: memory loss, difficulty in completing familiar tasks, trouble understanding and visual images just to name a few (William and Bleiler 2012) AD victims show clear structural abnormalities with the loss of neurons that liberate acetylcholine from a brain region called the nucleus basalis, beta-amyloid plaques, clusters of abnormal proteins deposited outside neurons, and the neurofibrillary tangles, abnormal bundles of protein filaments inside neurons in affected brain regions. (Patents, 2015) As we age the protein called beta-amyloid and tau begins to accumulate in the brain, causing the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein in plaques that causes the nerve cells to die. (Patents, 2015) Beta-amyloid is a solitary molecule that travels freely in the brain, but as we age the molecule begins to bunch up into small clusters and finally the plaque forms into clusters that form, beta-amyloid that bind to a receptor on nerve cells, setting in motion a process that erodes nerve cells. (Patents, 2015) This stage is called the presymptomatic stage as more and more beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles form in the brain, he althy neurons begin to work less efficiently, and their ability to correctly function, communicate and eventually die. (Patents, 2015) This process begins in the