alzheimer's disease

1. Alzheimer's
Disease
Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life

2. Alzheimer's
Disease
progressive neurodegenerative disease
most often associated with
memory deficits and cognitive decline
is a …
https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/inline-
images/brain_slices_alzheimers_0.jpg

3. difficulty
Making
Judgments
and
Decisions
Symptoms
Memory
Loss
difficulty
concentrating
and thinking
Mood and
Personality
Changes

4. Brain of
Alzheimer's
Disease
https://www.iona.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/alzheimers-brain.jpg

5. Alzheimer's
Disease
shrinks
to some degree
healthy
aging
Damage
widespread
lose neurons
not that much
many neurons stop
functioning

6. Alzheimer’s disease
affect the brain
destroys neurons
and
their connections in brain affects areas in the
cerebral cortex
loses ability to live and
function independently
Fatal!
memory
(entorhinal cortex
and hippocampus) language, reasoning,
and social behavior

7. Determining the
function and survival of
neurons
communication
metabolism
repair
remodeling
regeneration
https://i0.wp.com/knowingneurons.com/wp-
content/uploads/2018/01/NeuralCommunication-
01.png?resize=1024%2C445&ssl=1 https://www.amsbio.com/wp//wp-
content/uploads/2022/05/metabolism-featured-image-
correct-size.png
Crucial for learning,
memory, and
possibly brain
repair.

8. main
characteristics
of the brain with
Alzheimer’s

9. Amyloid plaques
Ø beta-amyloid protein
Ø several different molecular forms
Ø collect between neurons
Ø breakdown of a larger protein(amyloid precursor protein)
Ø disrupt cell function
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/n7-mcnn/7bcc9724adf7b803/uploads/2016/03/healthy-brain-and-alzheimers-brain-16x9.jpg

10. Neurofibrillary
tangles
Ø abnormal accumulations of a protein(tau) collect inside neurons
https://www.brightfocus.org/sites/default/files/2022-04/normal_vs_alzheimers_brain.jpeg
1. tau detach from microtubules
2. stick to other tau molecules
3. forming threads
4. form tangles inside neurons
5. block the neuron’s transport system
6. harms the synaptic communication between neurons

11. Chronic
inflammation
Ø may be caused by the buildup of glial cells
Ø microglia fail to clear away waste, debris,
and protein collections(beta-amyloid plaques…)

12. Vascular contributions
eg. beta-amyloid
deposits in brain arteries,
atherosclerosis
(hardening of the
arteries), and mini-
strokes
Lead to
a breakdown of the
blood-brain barrier
prevents glucose from
reaching the brain
prevents the clearing
away of toxic beta-
amyloid and tau
proteins
Inflammation!
reduced blood flow
and oxygen to the
brain

13. brain atrophy
connections between networks of neurons may
break down
many brain regions begin to shrink
brain atrophy is widespreadà loss of brain volume.
neurons are injured and die
https://www.mayoclinic.org/-/media/kcms/gbs/patient-consumer/images/2014/03/27/09/38/r7_brainatrophyalz.jpg

14. no cure for
Alzheimer’s

15. Treatments
Cholinesterase
inhibitors
Memantine
Aducanumab
(Aduhelm)
Lecanemab
Ø preventing the breakdown of
acetylcholine
Ø for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s
Ø for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s
Ø not widely used
Ø immunotherapy used
Ø protein beta-amyloid à reduce amyloid plaques

16. ● After taking this course, I know some
organ more than past. doing this
assignment also let me have chance to
search data of Alzheimer’s disease, which
is a commonly seen disease in our life.
Also, it could be an extension of week3.

17. References
● https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-
disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447
● https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-
disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350453
● https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-causes-and-risk-
factors/what-happens-brain-alzheimers-disease
● https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-symptoms-and-
diagnosis/what-are-signs-alzheimers-disease

18. CREDITS: This presentation template was created by
Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon and infographics &
images by Freepik
Thanks!