Worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Join the Alzheimer's Association in going purple and raising awareness this June. The more people know about Alzheimer's, the more action we inspire.
Below are some of the affects of Alzheimer's on your brain:
- Alzheimer's disease leads to nerve cell death and tissue loss throughout the brain. Over time, the brain shrinks dramatically, affecting nearly all its functions.
- Alzheimer's tissue has many fewer nerve cells and synapses than a healthy brain.
- Plaques, abnormal clusters of protein fragments, build up between nerve cells.
- Dead and dying nerve cells contain tangles, which are made up of twisted strands of another protein.
- Plaques and tangles tend to spread through the cortex in a predictable pattern as Alzheimer's disease progresses.
In the earliest stages, before symptoms can be detected with current tests, plaques and tangles begin to form in brain areas involved in learning/memory and thinking/planning.
As Alzheimer's progresses, individuals may experience changes in personality and behavior and have trouble recognizing friends and family members due to plaques and tangles spreading to areas involving speech and your sense of where your body is in relation to objects around you.
In advanced Alzheimer's disease, most of the cortex is seriously damaged. The brain shrinks dramatically due to widespread cell death. Individuals lose their ability to communicate, to recognize family and loved ones and to care for themselves.
Everyone can help in the fight to end Alzheimer's. Join the cause by staying informed, making a donation, or becoming an advocate for those with Alzheimer's disease and their families. Get Involved with the Alzheimer's Association and make a difference!
