Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is one of the most common of the dementing illnesses. A
progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain, causing impaired
memory, thinking and behavior. A person with Alzhiemers Disease may experience
personality and behavior changes, impaired judgment, confusion and difficulty
finishing thoughts, following directions or even finding the right word to say
in a conversation. Once advanced the sufferer may require a caretaker as daily
chores become very difficult to accomplish. Evidence points toward amyloid as
one of the main causes for the occurring cytotoxic processes. Researchers have
found that degeneration appears to be caused by interference with intracellular
calcium homeostasis via activation of calcium channels, intracellular calcium
stores, and further production of free radicals by calcium-sensitive enzymes.
The glutamatergic system seems to be involved in mediating the toxic processes.
In the brain, the nerve cells in the part......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 958
Approximate Pages: 4 (260 words per double-spaced page) |