this presentation is about Alzheimer's disease

1. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Done By DONIA Esam

2. What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease, named after the doctor
who first described it (Alois Alzheimer), is a
physical disease that affects the brain. There
are more than 520,000 people in the UK
with Alzheimer’s disease

3. What is Alzheimer’s disease?
•Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. This
means that gradually, over time, more parts of
the brain are damaged. As this happens, more
symptoms develop. They also become more
severe.

4. The Healthy Human Brain
The whole brain is fed and provided with oxygen
by a complex network of arteries, veins and
capillaries. This vascular network is strictly
controlled and segregates the brain from the rest
of the blood stream. The blood brain barrier
protects the brain from infection, but
consequently if the brain does become infected it
is difficult to treat, as many antibiotics are too
large in their molecular structure to cross the
barrier. This is also a major problem when finding
agents to treat Alzheimer’s disease, as they must
pass this barrier to target the brain.

5. The Healthy Human Brain
Behind the ears and temples are the temporal lobes of the brain.
These regions process speech and working memory, and also
‘higher’ emotions such as empathy, morality and regret. Beneath
the forebrain are the more primitive brain regions such as the
limbic system. The limbic system is a structure that is common to
all mammals and processes our desires and many emotions. Also
in the limbic system is the hippocampus – a region that is vital for
forming new memories.
The cerebellum is at the back of the brain, which stores our
muscle memory so we can do things without thinking - such as
riding a bike. The midbrain and brain stem are the most primitive
regions of the brain. They control bodily functions such as heart
rate and digestion and act as an interface between the spinal
cord and the rest of the brain.

6. The Healthy Human Brain
All these complex tasks are mediated by the connections between
the brain cells (neurons) called synapses.
Our brains form a million new connections – a million new synapses
– every second we are alive. The pattern and strength of the
connections is constantly changing and no two brains are alike.
It is in these changing connections that memories are stored, habits
learned and personalities shaped, by reinforcing certain patterns of
brain activity, and losing others.
Brain cells communicate though synapses in a variety of ways.
Signals pass move across the synapse in the form of chemicals that
are known as neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters a passed from
one brain cell, across the synapse (connection) and to the receiving
brain cell, which collects the neurotransmitter with a receptor. The
receiving cell can then send out another burst of neurotransmitters
to other brain cells to pass the message on.

7. The Brain with Alzheimer’s Disease
Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles
are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve
cells.
Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment called
beta-amyloid that build up in the spaces between
nerve cells.
Tangles are twisted fibers of another protein called
tau that build up inside cells.

8. The Brain with Alzheimer’s Disease
Though autopsy studies show that most people develop
some plaques and tangles as they age, those with
Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more and in a predictable
pattern, beginning in the areas important for memory
before spreading to other regions.
These plaques impair synapses so signals cannot pass
between brain cells. Tangles kill brain cells by preventing
the normal transport of food and energy around the brain
cell.
As brain cells die the brain shrinks, which can be detected
using imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The outer part of the brain is usually the area affected first
by the disease

9. The Symptoms Of
Alzheimer’s disease
Memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease increasingly interferes with
daily life as the condition progresses.
- The person may: n lose items (eg keys, glasses) around the house
- struggle to find the right word in a conversation or forget someone’s
name
- forget about recent conversations or events
- get lost in a familiar place or on a familiar journey
- forget appointments or anniversaries

10. The Symptoms Of Alzheimer’s
disease
Although memory difficulties are usually the earliest symptoms
of Alzheimer’s, someone with the disease will also have – or go
on to develop – problems with other aspects of thinking,
reasoning, perception or communication. They might have
difficulties with:
-language – struggling to follow a conversation or repeating
themselves
-visuospatial skills – problems judging distance or seeing objects
in three dimensions; navigating stairs or parking the car become
much harder
-concentrating, planning or organising – difficulties making
decisions, solving problems or carrying out a sequence of
tasks (eg cooking a meal) -orientation – becoming confused
or losing track of the day or date.
-A person in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s will often have
changes in their mood. They may become anxious, irritable
or depressed. Many people become withdrawn and lose
interest in activities and hobbies

11. The 3 stage of alzheimer disease

12. Risk factor

13. The Treatment
Alzheimer's has no current cure, but
treatments for symptoms are available
and research continues. Although
current Alzheimer's treatments cannot
stop Alzheimer's from progressing, they
can temporarily slow the worsening of
dementia symptoms and improve quality
of life for those with Alzheimer's and
their caregivers. Today, there is a
worldwide effort under way to find
better ways to treat the disease, delay its
onset, and prevent it from developing.

14. The END