What is happening in the brain of a patient with Alzheimer’s Disease to cause all of the unpleasant cognitive and behavioral symptoms of the disease? Alois Alzheimer was the first to find the strange plaques and tangles characteristic of the disease in the brain of one of his patients during an autopsy. He gave his name to the disease despite the contribution his colleague Emil Kraepelin made by isolating and identifying the symptoms of the disease. For years, Alzheimer’s disease could only be diagnosed with a high degree of accuracy post-mortem. Now researchers are learning more about what exactly is happening in the brain to cause the disease and why those strange plaques and tangles develop in the first place.

Neurofibrillary tangles are one characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. Brain damage occurs as a result of neurons being clogged with microscopic filaments, which are made up of an abnormal type of Tau protein. Normally functioning Tau protein sends chemical messages from neuron to neuron by bonding to microtubules, while the type of Tau protein found in an Alzheimer’s disease brain bonds with itself and goes nowhere. Clogged neurons are no longer able to do their job and pass along the impulses they receive from the environment; therefore, disabled neurons are one cause of the cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Brain damage due to neurofibrillary tangles is also found in associated diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease. Scientists aren’t sure why the Tau protein malfunctions and causes the tangles. Some researchers believe that Tau malfunctions as a result of beta amyloid protein, which is what causes the second form of damage in an Alzheimer’s disease brain—plaques between neurons.

Senile plaque, which is considered to be the more damaging of the two abnormalities in an Alzheimer’s disease brain, consists of large, abnormal, sticky patches containing beta amyloid protein. These patches block communication between neurons, causing the learning and memory problems consistent with the cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The more plaque there is in the brain, the worse the impairment becomes because plaque is thought to interfere with the functioning of acetylcholine, which transmits nerve impulses in the brain and body. The only FDA-approved medications used to treat Alzheimer’s are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which block the enzymes that eat away at acetylcholine. These medications work best, however, in the earliest stages of the disease before the amount of plaque in an Alzheimer’s disease brain has caused considerable damage.

Recent research has begun to clarify the possible cause-and-effect connection between plaques and tangles. A study that used proteins from the immune system of mice to get rid of the beta amyloid that causes plaque discovered that the proteins ate away at the tangles as well. Other medications used to lower levels of beta amyloid also worked on the tangles. Some researchers believe that plaques and tangles may themselves be the result of some other disease process in the brain, such as swollen axons.

In research done on mice that were genetically engineered to have a disease similar to Alzheimer’s Disease, the swollen axons, which are important in communicating between neurons, caused a “traffic” jam of sorts that may, over time, lead to the neuronal degeneration, plaques and tangles apparent in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Researchers hope that, by focusing on the disease process in the brain of Alzheimer’s Disease patients, they can one day find a cause and, ultimately, a cure for the disease.

Joe Green is Webmaster at Good Health Matters where he is providing a wide range of information on different health conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be devastating. While the disease will certainly bring changes to your life, understanding some simple techniques of Alzheimer’s disease management can help you cope with those changes and continue to have a good quality of life in the future.

The first step in Alzheimer’s disease management is an attitude of wellness. Just because you have been diagnosed with a disease doesn’t mean you should stop working on your physical, mental, and emotional health. A diagnosis is all the more reason to take wellness seriously. Proper exercise, nutrition and rest are crucially important for health. Keeping appointments with physicians and managing medications are also doubly important. Physical health, however, is inextricably linked with emotional and spiritual health.

When you first receive your diagnosis that you have Alzheimer’s Disease, you will probably go through a grieving process and experience a whole gamut of uncomfortable emotions. These range from fear, anger and sadness to loneliness and frustration. To help handle these emotions, engage in activities you find enjoyable, such as journaling, art or other hobbies.

Talk to a physician, therapist or pastor. Staying close to family members, loved ones and the community can ward off feelings of loneliness and isolation. So can joining a support group, where you can talk to other people who are experiencing the same changes in their lives and who can empathise with your present feelings and help you plan for the future.

No matter how physically, mentally and emotionally healthy you may strive to be, you will inevitably face a number of changes in how you are able to handle your everyday life as a result of the disease; therefore, the next step in Alzheimer’s disease management is learning how to cope with change.

Tasks which were once easy to accomplish, such as writing a check or washing the bathtub, may become more difficult as the disease progresses. Rather than criticizing yourself when a task becomes difficult, break it down into a number of easily manageable steps that you give yourself plenty of time to complete. Rest if the task becomes too difficult, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes communicating with others and asking for assistance may be a difficult task in itself. Ask people to clarify themselves if you do not understand them, and give yourself time to process what they are saying and to respond.

You may also want to find a peaceful environment free from distraction in order to make communication easier. You might also suggest to your regular caregivers that they find out more about the disease, the stages you will go through, and what they should do to help you.

Finally, make your home an interactive environment that constantly gives you signs and clues to help you deal with changes in your memory. Label everything from your medication to your family photos, and write daily schedules and reminders for yourself. Have family members help you organize your home or call you with reminders.

At some point, the disease may progress to the stage where you are no longer able to handle making important decisions for yourself regarding health care, finances and other legal issues. The final step in Alzheimer’s disease management is to prepare for the future. Talk to your family members about care options. Understand your finances and determine how your care will be paid for. Discuss legal issues such as trusts, wills, and who will have control over your healthcare decisions with an attorney. All the work you do now can improve your quality of life in the future.

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Joe Green is webmaster at http://Good-Health-Matters.com where he is bringing together many resources to help people caring for those with different diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease.

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