2.4 Flashcards
Dementia is more likely to occur in
Older people
Dementia is a general term for
Loss of memory, language and intellectual ability
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia in UK
During the disease physical changes occur in the brain, such as:
- neurones and synapses are lost from parts of the cerebral cortex (part of the brain for learning and memory)
- some neurones develop twisted fibres inside them called ‘tangles’
- plaques of amyloid protein build up between the neurones
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease in which the brain becomes more damaged over
Time
Early stages of Alzheimer’s:
Forgetful
Difficulty finding right words
Later stages of Alzheimer’s:
Confused Forget peoples names Forget where they are Forget important appointments Forget recent events Mood swings Depressed Angry Frustration because of memory loss and may be frightened by it
As Alzheimer’s worsens:
Increasingly withdrawn (partly because of an inability to communicate, but also because they become less confident)
Alzheimer’s sufferers will need increasing support from other people as disease progresses until eventually they will need help for even the most
Basic daily activities
Causes of Alzheimer’s:
-not known
(Causes) plaques that build up in the brain are made of a small protein called
Beta-amyloid
(Causes) beta-amyloid is part of a larger transmembrane protein called
Amyloid precursor protein (APP)
(Causes) APP is believed to be important in helping neurones to
Grow
(Causes) an enzyme cuts off beta-amyloid from
APP
(Causes) people with Alzheimer’s, it appears that there is too much beta-amyloid protein or it has a
Slightly different structure from usual
(Causes)healthy neurones are held in shape by
Microtubules
