Scariest Diseases That Come With Age

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia, affects approximately 5.7 million Americans, making it the most frequently diagnosed type. This progressive disease of the brain gradually destroys various mental functions, such as memory. The most prominent risk factor is aging, and most patients are at least sixty-five years old. However, experts also believe lifestyle, genetics, and environment all play a role. The two hallmarks of this disease are tangles and plaques. Tangles are twisted threads of tau proteins that cause transport system changes. This characteristic is highly associated with brain cell decline and death. Plaques are beta-amyloid protein clumps on the brain. They may destroy and damage brain cells in many ways and impact how cells communicate with each other. Symptoms and complications of Alzheimer's disease may include impairments with language, cognition, judgment, memory, and even physical health. For example, those with this disease are prone to malnutrition, bedsores, and fractures. Other symptoms are personality changes, unclear thinking, and the inability to keep up with normal daily activities.

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