Plaques and Tangles


On the average the Alzheimer's Foundation of America declares that one victim of the disease has 1-4 family members to attend to him/her. The more the better. Obviously there is much sympathy for this slow progressive illness which overtakes  so many after 65 years today.

Alzheimer is a disorder of the brain which sees a separation, decline and destruction of nuerons (nerve cells) such as in the hippocampus which causes short term memory failure or in the celebral cortex which results in loss of language skill and good judgement. This separation of nerve cells seem to be due to two clogs in the system ie. plaques and tangles that have be found to be characteristic of the sickness. Plaques are clinging protein that form outside and around the cell walls, while tangles are twisted protein fibers that builds up inside the cell themselves.

handle with care
block on block


The mental decline begins, first goes recent memories then the older ones, command of language diminishes, loss of motor skill even to chewing and walking goes, weakening of the sensory perception so that one cannot even recognise a familiar face or object. With all this comes emotional changes due to the confusion of thoughts and faulty perceptive ability, depression, even hallucination or delusion.

The  poor victim is  thus effectively cut off from the society in which he /she lives, requiring more attention from those of us around . Families understand and respond with love.

that slip again
memories forgot