Chapter 9 Blog

Alzheimers is a type of dementia that causes problems with

memory, thinking, and behavior. The symptoms usually start off
mild, and get progressively worse as time passes.
Dementia is a basic term for memory loss. Alzheimers is the most
common form of dementia. Alzheimers accounts for anywhere
from 60-80% of dementia cases.
Alzheimers is not a normal part of aging. Majority of people with
Alzheimers are 65 and old however some people can develop it
at ages such as 40.
It is believed that Alzheimers is caused from an issue in the brain.
A group of scientists from the Lomonosov Moscow State
University and Institute of Molecular Biology have succeeded in
sorting out the mechanism of Alzheimers development and
possibly distinguished its key trigger.
The scientific definition of Alzheimers describes it as the
widespread degenerative damage of the central nervous system
which leads to a loss of mental ability.
One of the main hypothesis is the amyloid hypothesis.
Amyloids are molecular constructions of a protein type and in its
normal healthy state they provide a protection to the brain cells
(news-medical). Having fulfilled their function they fall prey to the
work of proteases, the cleaning enzymes that cut all the used
protein elements into harmless slags that are further reclaimed
or removed from a body.
According to this hypothesis something goes wrong and their
protectors turn to become their killers.
How might this happen?

Thats an unexplored area in the early stages and not much of

anything is known about it. Could it become simple mutations or
DNA mess up?
Well these scientists have discovered a new method.
Based on the findings, the researchers proposed that the
mechanism of zinc- controlled transformations of a peptideprotector into a peptide-killer. Due to specific finding of the
discovery, they hope to be able to find a solution to prevent
Alzheimers.
To better understand the brains role in this and how it is affected
lets talk about the brain.
The brain is the mastermind of the nervous system and in some
way or another controls every portion of the human body.
Its the bodys biggest user of oxygen and glucose. The
hippocampus is the center of learning and memory and its
vulnerable in the days following cardiac arrest. A thing called Nrf2
remains inactive in the cell cytoplasm bound to a proteins called
Keap1, until under stress which then Nrf2 is released to move to
the nucleus where it turns on a host of antioxidant and
detoxification and genes. The body sometimes doesnt do this
properly and this is the reason the issues are still happening.
The hippocampus exists within the limbic system along with the
amygdala which deals with emotions.
Now along with the hippocampus involving memory, there are
several different types of memory that are involved. Episodic,
which is personal memory of events at a certain time and place,
Semantic, which is general knowledge, Procedural, which is for
skills we have learned, and episodic which is where we were, what
we saw or heard, and how we felt which puts together a memory.
When we experience something, information from the senses
goes into the hippocampus. Over time, it is believed that the
hippocampus begins to transfer memories into the cerebral
cortex. Its stored in the cortex as a network of nerve cells. This

shows that the cortex as well is affected by dementia because

some patients with dementia are affected and lose long term
memory which is shown often.
The most common types of dementia start with the shrinkage of
brain tissue and it may only be restricted to certain areas.
With Alzheimers mostly affecting the hippocampus first it makes
it difficult for the affected personnel to learn new information or
make new memories.
The amygdala is usually affected after which can ruin someones
emotional aspects of something. After it spreads the brain
gradually shrinks, and it overall makes any memory in any area
difficult.

https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/p
ublication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet

http://www.brightfocus.org/alzheim
ers

Works Cited
"Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer's Association."
Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer's Association. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 15 Mar.
"Dementia and the Brain." Natasha Judd. N.p., n.d. Web. 15
Mar. 2016.
"Scientists Sort out Mechanism of Alzheimer's Disease
Development." News-Medical.net. N.p., 11 Mar. 2016. Web.
15 Mar. 2016.