THINGS YOU DIDNT KNOW ABOUT ALZHEIMER AND PARKINSON DISEASE

It appears that Alzheimer and Parkinson disease might someday be treatable according to recent research findings. Alzheimer disease is a disease characterized by a gradual loss of reason that begins with memory lapses and ends with an inability to perform any type of daily activity.personality changes signals the onset of Alzheimer disease.

A normal 50 to 60 year old adult might forget the name of a friend not seen for years.however, people with Alzheimer disease forget the name of a neighbor who visits them daily. With time, they have trouble finding their way and cannot perform simple errands. People afflicted with Alzheimer disease become confused and tend to repeat the same question. Signs of mental disturbances eventually appear and patients gradually become bedridden and die of complications such as pneumonia.

The Alzheimer neuron has two abnormalities not seen in the normal neuron.bundles of fibrous protein called neurofibrillary tangles surround the nucleus in the cell and protein rich accumulations called amyloid plaques,envelop the axon branches.

These abnormal neurons are especially seen in the portions of the brain that are involved in reason and memory. In order to see the abnormal brain neurons,brain tissue must be examined microscopically after the patient. Drugs that enhance the production of acetycholine are currently being used to treat Alzheimer disease patients.

Parkinson  is a disease of the basal nuclei that is usually not seen until after age 60. The three obvious signs of Parkinson disease are slowness of movement,tremor and rigidity.the person walks with a small-stepped shuffle and there is no swinging of the arms. An involuntary shaking of the hands occurs even when they are at rest.

Rigidity of facial muscles gives the appearance of a mask-like face.all these symptoms are due to the degeneration of neurons in the basal nuclei that normally produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. 

Therefore,we know that dopamine is essential for normal coordinated movements.