Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative disease characterized by a
progressive decline in cognitive function, affecting memory, mood and
behavior. It affects more than 35 million people in the world, making it
the most common type of dementia. If the brain of an Alzheimer’s
patient is examined, it will characteristically show plaques – dense
deposits of products of dying nerve cells - and neurofibrillary tangles –
twisted fragments of protein within nerve cells. These changes reflect
the progressive and irreversible damage to nerve cells, resulting in
marked shrinkage of the brain in certain areas.
