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Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's
NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology
Natalie Poole
Walden University
Dr. Mary Smith
January 26, 2017
Alzheimer's Defined
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of
dementia in the elderly.
It is characterized as an
insidious impairment in intellectual functioning
with an alteration in mood and behavior.
Alzheimer's is irreversible, and progressive in
nature.
It slowly destroys memory and thinking
skills, making simple tasks unable to complete.
It
is the sixth leading cause of death in the United
States, but recent research estimates it just behind
heart disease and cancer.
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The Pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s
The Pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s
The amyloid plaques, neurofibrally/tangles of the brain
stop functioning, losing connections with other neurons,
resulting in death. Plaque formation can occur as early as
the fifth decade of life.
Damage is initially seen in the hippocampus, the memory
forming part of the brain. Decision making is altered.
