Question #a95bf

1 Answer
Jun 28, 2016

Alzheimer's Disease is caused by the death of neurons in the brain.

Explanation:

Neurons have special conductive properties which allow the cells to transmit signals and impulses from one part of the body to another.

When these cells die they have a difficult time regenerating (some take months, some take years, and others never regenerate). Your body attempts to repair these dead cells by laying down a protein called tau protein which has no conductive properties (its essentially scar tissue). The lack of conductivity tau protein exhibits means that it cannot transmit impulses inhibiting the impulses from functioning neural tissue that surrounds the non-transmitting tissue (the tau acts like a downed tree on a highway). The neural connections that are responsible for maintaining memories are lost along with their associated memories and as the disease progresses the damage spreads manifesting as an increase in the severity of symptoms.