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1Pathophysiology of Alzheimer'sNURS 6501 Advanced PathophysiologyNatalie PooleWalden UniversityDr. Mary SmithJanuary 26, 2017
Alzheimer's DefinedAlzheimer'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.2
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.