How Alzheimer’s affects the brain?

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that causes dementia in patients. It’s most commonly found in those age 65 or older but can be diagnosed rarely in younger populations. At present, there is no cure for the disease, and treatment commonly focuses on symptom management aimed at helping those with Alzheimer’s remain independent as long as possible.

Alzheimer’s symptoms include:

• Difficulty with recent memories
• Trouble planning or solving problems
• Losing track of time, dates, or seasons
• Losing things or placing items in strange locations without the ability to retrace steps and find them again
• Personality and mood changes
• Trouble following and engaging in conversations
• Difficulty completing familiar or daily tasks

The brain is profoundly affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The condition causes nerve cell death and tissue loss, leading to shrinking in the brain, which affects brain function. Researchers aren’t sure what contributes to the cell death but suspect plaque buildup of protein between nerve cells. As the condition progresses, plaque spreads, and the condition worsens. Each person’s experience and rate of progression are different but can follow a particular pattern of progression.

In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, plaques start to form in the brain regions involved in learning, memory, thinking, and planning. In the mild or moderate stages, the brain areas most vital to memory, thinking, and planning develop more plaques. Individuals have more problems with thinking and memory that begin to interfere with daily life. People may notice impacts in work, relationships, and daily tasks. Confusion and difficulty thinking through familiar processes occur. Plaque spreads and impacts areas of the brain linked with speech and spatial understanding. At its most severe stage, the damage of the cortex is serious; images of the brains of those with Alzheimer’s disease reveal severe shrinking due to cell death. The ability to communicate, recognize people, and care for themselves is damaged.

Early detection and intervention are important to prolonging a person with Alzheimer’s to live independently and care for themselves. If you’re experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s or if someone you know is, talk with your doctor. Seeking support as you care for someone with this condition can be helpful to manage the feelings of caregiver fatigue that many people may experience. If you need support, contact the Alzheimer’s helpline at 800-272-3900.