Category — Alzheimer

There’s mounting evidence that we could take the challenge and dare to beat Dementia, Alzheimer’s and any of those other horrible brain debilitating conditions by making certain shifts in our lives. And though I can hear my brother dispute this (he’s got Parkinson’s) experts are coming on board and now agreeing that exercising the brain could play a huge role in keeping it sharp.

Many of us know people who have been inflicted with Dementia. And if you know anybody who has been impacted with any of these awful brain crippling conditions, you would definitely know exactly what I am talking about.

You’d think that modern medicine could have these conditions eradicated by now. But then if you recognize that this is a big industry with hefty costs to the consumer for care and medications. Treating senior citizens in general is a huge money maker. Toss in the costs for administering special care for Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why the Marriott Corp. jumped on board by opening those quaint little Courtyard inns in preparation for the day we Baby Boomer enter into enter old age.

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Introduction
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition that damages areas of the brain involved in intelligence, memory, behavior, judgment, and language. It is the most common form of mental decline in older adults. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, but the course of the disease varies from person to person. Some people may still be able to function relatively well until late stages of Alzheimers disease. Others may lose the ability to do daily activities in earlier stages. Over time, Alzheimer’s disease causes severe mental and functional problems and eventually results in death.

Causes
Scientists do not yet fully understand the causes of Alzheimer’s disease. There probably is not one single cause, but several factors that affect each person differently.

Recent studies indicate that amyloid beta protein may cause Alzheimer’s disease. In healthy people, this protein can cross the blood-brain barrier (the wall of blood vessels that feed the brain and regulate the entry and exit of brain chemicals) and leave the brain. In people with Alzheimers disease, amyloid beta protein can’t pass through that barrier. As more amyloid beta protein accumulates in a person’s brain, they become more and more mentally disabled.

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