Diagnosing Alzheimer
's Disease Through Brain Tissue
Introduction
According to the Alzheimer's Association, as of 2009, approximately 5.3 million people are currently living with Alzheimer's disease in the United States. On top of that, every 70 seconds, another person is diagnosed with the disorder. Alzheimer's disease is a disorder that affects the tissues of the brain. It starts by impairing memory and eventually impairs many of the other needed systems in the body, rendering the person helpless.
Tissue Effects
Alzheimer's disease affects brain tissue by developing structures called "plaques" and "tangles." Plaques are protein fragments that build up between nerve cells. Tangles are a different type of protein fragment that forms inside the dying nerve cells. Both eventually lead to the death of nerve cells throughout the brain tissue. Plaques and tangles interrupt the normal flow of brain cells, including the necessary pathways that the cells need to survive.
Scanning
Plaques and tangles can be located by scanning the tissue of the brain. This is done using a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine. As brain cells die, the brain tissue begins to atrophy. This atrophy can be seen by image scanning the brain and then comparing the image result with that of a healthy brain. An MRI works by using radio wave energy to determine the different types of tissues in the body. This gives the neurologist doing the tests the ability to see where the brain tissue has worn away. By looking at the image, the neurologist can accurately diagnose Alzheimer's disease.
Tags: Alzheimer disease, brain tissue, nerve cells, Alzheimer Disease Through, brain cells, Diagnosing Alzheimer
