Alzheimer s Disease A Devastating Genetic Disease

Matt Feder Dr. Ramos Biology Honors 29 March 2015 Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating genetic disease that ravages the brain, destroying its tissues and altogether its ability to function. It is not sure exactly how it is caused, although it is known that the disease is genetic and is the result of a dominant allele on a chromosome and that certain lifestyle factors such as foods consumed and exercising can slow the disease’s spread. The disease itself is very progressive as it can take many years to even be seen after it first begins and people with the disease usually live about eight years after they see the first symptoms on average. Alzheimer’s affects roughly 1.5% of Americans age 65 and older and is the most common type of†¦show more content†¦Alzheimer’s disease has three main stages. In the first stage, mild Alzheimer’s, the main symptoms are memory loss and the loss of abilities associated with perception. Mood changes and swings to an almost bipolar point occur as does poor judgement in everyday tasks and conversations. Although all of this does occur, a person with mild Alzheimer’s could function and live on their own, they could also still participate in conversations and daily life. During this stage, the brain develops plaques and tangles around the brain stem. From here they spread to the hippocampus which is the part of the brain that is responsible for storing memories. This is when the memory loss really begins due to the fact that the plaques and tangles are killing neurons in the hippocampus, no longer allowing it to perform its proper function. In the second stage of the disease, moderate Alzheimer’s, memory loss becomes even worse. Patients begin to forget who their close relatives and friends are. They also have more difficulty in speaking, conscious thought, reasoning, and carrying out more difficult tasks such as putting on clothes or showering. At this point, the disease has spread further throughout the brain and plaques and tangles are much more common. The affected regions of brain tissue now begin to shrink as the neurons that control them die off. The disease is more spread throughout the brain here but is not yet completely