Inside the Closed World of the Brain: How brain cells connect, share and disengage--and why this holds the key to Alzheimer's disease

ISBN-13: 9780996351300 / Angielski / Miękka / 2015 / 252 str.

Margaret Thompson Reece

Opis

Most adults fear the onset of dementia in general, and Alzheimer's disease in particular, more than physical disability. Many ask: What is Alzheimer's disease? Could I have it? Clear answers about Alzheimer's dementia and what is required to live a long, mentally healthy life requires first an understanding of how the brain's many types of cells connect, share and disengage. Recent studies show unequivocally that the non-neuron cells of the brain, the glia and microglia, actively participate in maintaining its well-being. Yet, glia and microglia are also significant participants in the demise of the memory neurons lost in Alzheimer's dementia. "Inside the Closed World of the Brain" is organized to take a reader on a journey through the brain that begins with tactics for quickly learning the necessary words. Next, there is an explanation of the general organization of the human brain both at the visual and microscopic level. After that the brain's system for internal quality control of its watery environment, critical for neuron function, is described. From there the reader is introduced to all of the cells of the brain and how they work together under normal circumstances to form memory and acquire language. Then, what science now knows about how this system fails in Alzheimer's dementia is presented. Postmortem data from long-lived, mentally competent people is compared to that from people who died of Alzheimer's disease. This comparison, only recently available, is leading to a re-evaluation of how Alzheimer's disease develops and provides clues for development of new therapies.

Brain Science for Beginners: Understand dementia of old age by first learning how a normal human brain is organizedIf you struggle to understand media talk about the human brain and dementia of old age, then don't miss this book. Before something broken can be fixed, there is a need to know how it is supposed to work. Discover the facts about dementia by first reading what brain science research reveals about anatomy and physiology of a healthy human brain.The final chapter of this book is devoted to Alzheimer’s disease as an example of where normal brain physiology and function can go wrong. There Dr. Reece translates the original scientific literature, which most people cannot read, into everyday language. Most everyone has heard of Alzheimer's disease, but few people know much about it. Because Dr. Reece teaches college students human physiology, she is asked about dementia s by friends, family and strangers. People want to know: What is Alzheimer's disease? How is Alzheimer's disease different from just getting old? Can I avoid Alzheimer's disease? These conversations encouraged her to write Inside the Closed World of the Brain. Her goal with this book is to provide people state-of-the-art information about how neurons and the brain's other 90% of cells work together and where brain function can go astray. Ultimately, understanding where things can go wrong will lead to prevention of all forms of the dementia of aging.You can find out more about Dr. Reece's work mentoring anatomy and physiology studenta at her website https://www.MedicalScienceNavigator.com