Alzheimer's designates a neurodegenerative condition, where toxic plaques build up in areas of the brain important for processing memories. The ongoing accumulation of these plaques eventually short-circuits communication between brain cells,...
Dementia manifests as progressive mental impairment that accompany any of several disease processes of the brain and nervous system, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms can include forgetfulness, personality changes, movement problems and...
Beta-amyloids are small peptides produced in the human brain during normal metabolism. Sometimes, a few of these peptides join together, forming potentially harmful beta-amyloid oligomers. When many clump together, they form the plaques and...
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, incurable and ultimately fatal form of dementia. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease occur because of the loss of neurons. However, the exact form of cell disease that Alzheimer's causes is not yet known....
Marijuana contains several chemicals including the potent psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. The positive effects of THC include pain relief and appetite stimulation. However, negative side effects also exist including...
More than five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, according to 2011 estimates from the Alzheimer's Association. This neurodegenerative disease causes steady declines in cognitive function, and there is no known cure. Although some...
When you hear the term "high blood sugar," your next thought may naturally center on diabetes, but high levels of glucose circulating through your bloodstream also increase your risk of Alzheimer's disease. At a foundational level, the two...
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of senile dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association, about 5.3 million Americans suffer from the disease. Alzheimer's affects the brain, causing it to shrink, and is associated with the growth...
Alzheimer's disease is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder, in which cells throughout the brain become damaged and die. Progression of Alzheimer's leads to memory loss, behavioral and emotional disturbances, diminished motor skills and...
Studies have shown that people with type-2 diabetes, or late-onset, diabetes, are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. The mechanism underlying the correlation between diabetes and Alzheimer's is still...
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder characterized by memory loss, personality changes and difficulty learning new tasks. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it is the most common form of dementia and affects...
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease and a leading cause of dementia. It is the sixth most common cause of death in the United States, causing approximately 74,600 deaths in 2007, according to the Centers for Disease Control and...
The most common kinds of memory loss are loss of working memory and loss of short-term memory. Working memory loss, in many cases, stems from damage to the prefrontal cortex. Short-term memory loss is primarily due to damage to or plaque formation...
L-arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, affects many vital functions in the body. In the brain, L-arginine is oxidized to nitric oxide gas, and this gas diffuses rapidly from cell to cell as one of the possible chemical messengers involved in...
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of senile dementia and is characterized by short-term memory loss, reduced cognitive abilities and inappropriate behavior. The American Health Assistance Foundation cites that over 26 million people are...
Produced by the liver and an important component of the mucus layer in the large intestines, lecithin is composed of three types of fat-soluble molecules called phospholipids. These molecules are major building blocks for cell membranes and, along...
Nicotinamide, also known as niacinamide, is a water-soluble form of vitamin B-3 or niacin. Nicotinamide and niacin are identical in terms of their vitamin value, but the former differs from niacin in toxicity and pharmacological effects. As a...
Acetyl-L-carnitine and L-arginine are two important amino acids that serve a variety of purposes for human health. These two compounds may play an active role in the prevention and management of Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative condition...
Insulin and insulin-like growth factor are two common protein molecules in the body. Despite their close structural resemblance, the nature of the work performed by these two proteins is highly divergent in some cases. There are many examples,...
Heavy alcohol use, like Alzheimer's, is associated with dementia. Because alcohol's impact on cognitive function is similar to that observed with Alzheimer's, some have suggested that alcoholism may either be a risk factor for developing...
L-arginine is an amino acid found in protein foods and in dietary supplements marketed as a way to boost sexual satisfaction, build muscle or protect against heart disease. L-arginine is also an important factor in normal brain functioning....
Gotu kola is a plant that grows in swampy environments in Southern Africa and India. Use of gotu kola in traditional medicine prompted investigation of potential medical benefits. Though many results from in vitro and animal studies have been...
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive form of dementia that affects mood, memory, thinking and behavior. Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, the Alzheimer's Association notes that a brain-healthy diet, combined with physical and...
The absence of treatments to prevent or slow Alzheimer's coupled with a massive generation of aging baby boomers means there could be 7.7 million Alzheimer's patients age 65 and older by 2030. Unless effective interventions are introduced, rates...
Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia characterized by a decline in intellectual function. As Alzheimer's progresses, it interferes with an individual's memory and thought processes and reduces one's ability to function socially. There is no...
Different teams of scientists have been investigating whether there is a connection between eye disease and protein. Research has determined that proteins are associated with a diabetic eye disease, associated with macular degeneration, with...
Many foods in the American diet are processed with chemical preservatives before they are sold to consumers. Some preservatives keep food free from bacteria. Others interrupt the natural ripening and aging process that causes food to to change...
Many people believe that nutritional supplements can improve their performance and health, according to a 2011 review in the "Journal of Sports Science." Scientists have started documenting these alleged benefits. Supplements can play a role in...
Alzheimer's disease affects up to 4 million elderly Americans. At time of publication, no reliable cure exists. However, certain body and brain chemicals appear to play a role in the disease's development. Some evidence suggests that a deficiency...
