Chapter 4

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Elie Tabcharany M.D. 1

The Impact of AD
Once considered a rare disorder,
Alzheimer’s disease is now seen as a
major public health problem that is
seriously affecting millions of older
people and their families.

Elie Tabcharany M.D. 2

 What is AD?

Alzheimer’s disease is an
irreversible, progressive brain
disease that slowly destroys
memory and thinking skills.

Although the risk of developing AD increases with age – in

most people with AD, symptoms first appear after age 60 –
AD is not a part of normal aging. It is caused by a fatal
disease that affects the brain.
Elie Tabcharany M.D. 3
 Inside the
Human Brain
Neurons

• The brain has billions of

neurons, each with an axon
and many dendrites.
• To stay healthy, neurons
must communicate with
each other, carry out
metabolism, and repair
themselves.
• AD disrupts all three of
these essential jobs.

Elie Tabcharany M.D. 4

AD and the Brain
Plaques and Tangles: The Hallmarks of AD
The brains of people with AD have an abundance of two
abnormal structures:
• beta-amyloid plaques, which are dense deposits of protein and
cellular material that accumulate outside and around nerve
cells
• neurofibrillary tangles, which are twisted fibers that build up
inside the nerve cell

An actual AD tangle
An actual AD plaque Elie Tabcharany M.D. 5
 AD and the Brain
Beta-amyloid Plaques

1. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is the

precursor to amyloid plaque.
1. APP sticks through the neuron
membrane.
2. Enzymes cut the APP into fragments
2. of protein, including beta-amyloid.
3. Beta-amyloid fragments come together
in clumps to form plaques.
In AD, many of these clumps form,
disrupting the work of neurons. This
affects the hippocampus and other areas
3.
of the cerebral cortex.
Elie Tabcharany M.D. 6
AD and the Brain
The Changing Brain in
Alzheimer’s Disease
No one knows what causes AD to begin,
but we do know a lot about what happens
in the brain once AD takes hold.

Pet Scan of
Normal Brain

Pet Scan of Alzheimer’s

Disease Brain
Elie Tabcharany M.D. 7
AD and the Brain
Preclinical AD • Signs of AD are first noticed in
the entorhinal cortex, then
proceed to the hippocampus.
• Affected regions begin to shrink
as nerve cells die.
• Changes can begin 10-20 years
before symptoms appear.
• Memory loss is the first sign of
AD.

Elie Tabcharany M.D. 8

AD and the Brain
• AD spreads through the brain. The
Mild to Moderate AD cerebral cortex begins to shrink as
more and more neurons stop
working and die.
• Mild AD signs can include memory
loss, confusion, trouble handling
money, poor judgment, mood
changes, and increased anxiety.
• Moderate AD signs can include
increased memory loss and
confusion, problems recognizing
people, difficulty with language
and thoughts, restlessness,
agitation, wandering, and repetitive
statements.
Elie Tabcharany M.D. 9
Slide 21
AD and the Brain
• In severe AD, extreme shrinkage
Severe AD occurs in the brain. Patients are
completely dependent on others for
care.
• Symptoms can include weight loss,
seizures, skin infections, groaning,
moaning, or grunting, increased
sleeping, loss of bladder and bowel
control.
• Death usually occurs from
aspiration pneumonia or other
infections. Caregivers can turn to a
hospice for help and palliative care.

Elie Tabcharany M.D. 10

AD Research: the
Search for Causes

AD develops

• AD develops when genetic, lifestyle, and environmental

factors work together to cause the disease process to start.

Elie Tabcharany M.D. 11

AD Research: the Search for Causes

Scientists examine characteristics, lifestyles, and disease

rates of groups of people to gather clues about possible
causes of AD. Some early results indicate:

• Mentally stimulating activity protects the brain in some

ways.
• In early life, higher skills in grammar and density of ideas
are associated with protection against AD in late life.

Elie Tabcharany M.D. 12

AD Research: Managing Symptoms
Between 70 to 90% of people with AD eventually
develop behavioral symptoms, including sleeplessness,
aggression, agitation, anger, depression, and
hallucinations and delusions. Experts suggest these
general coping strategies for managing difficult
behaviors:

• Stay calm and be understanding.

• Be patient and flexible. Don’t argue or try to convince.
• Acknowledge requests and respond to them.
• Try not to take behaviors personally. Remember: it’s
the disease talking, not your loved one.

Elie Tabcharany M.D. 13