What kind of physical problems does Alzheimer’s cause?
What kind of physical problems does Alzheimer’s cause?
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects the brain and progressively reduces memory, thinking ability, and overall cognitive function. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for about 60-80 percent of cases. The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown, but researchers have identified specific areas of the brain that are mainly affected by it.
Seahorse: Memory Center.
One of the first areas of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s is the hippocampus. Located deep in the brain, this tiny hippocampus-shaped structure is responsible for memory formation, integration, and retrieval. As Alzheimer’s progresses, the hippocampus becomes increasingly damaged, causing memory loss and difficulty in learning and maintaining new information.
Neocortical: Thinking and reasoning.
Another area of the brain that is heavily affected by Alzheimer’s is the neocortex, which is the outer layer of the brain responsible for higher-level thinking processes, language, reasoning, and problem solving. As the disease progresses, the neocortex gradually deteriorates, leading to a characteristic cognitive decline observed in Alzheimer’s patients.
Frontal Lobe: Personality and Behavior.
The frontal lobe is located in the front of the brain and is in charge of executive functions such as decision-making, judgment, problem solving, and impulse control. Alzheimer’s disease is heavily influenced by the frontal lobe, resulting in changes in personality, behavior, and emotion control. This can be attributed to mood changes, agitation, irritation, and difficulties in social interaction.
The temporal lobe: Language and understanding.
The temporal lobe plays an important role in language comprehension, language expression, face, and object recognition. In Alzheimer’s disease, the temporal lobe is gradually damaged, making it difficult to understand language, speech, text, and speech. This often causes difficulties in communicating and expressing yourself.
Parietal Lobe: Spatial Perception and Sensory Perception.
The parietal lobe is responsible for processing sensory information, including touch, temperature, pain, and spatial perception. In Alzheimer’s disease, the parietal lobe can be affected, leading to spatial orientation, lost problems, and sensory perception problems. Individuals may have difficulty recognizing and placing objects in space.
Amygdala: Emotions and Memories.
The amygdala is a small almond-shaped structure deep in the brain that plays an important role in processing emotions and forming emotional memories. In Alzheimer’s disease, the amygdala is damaged and can cause emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression, and mood swings. This can further affect memory consolidation and recovery.