Ask AI: Pathogenesis/Biochemical changes in the brain in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that affects memory, language and cognition. Pathologically, AD presents as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, resulting in the death of nerve cells and the loss of synapses, leading to the decline in cognitive function and memory. Biochemically, there is a decrease in the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, as well as an imbalance of other neurotransmitters such as glutamate, gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), serotonin, and norepinephrine. Additionally, levels of beta-amyloid peptide, a peptide derived from the amyloid precursor protein, increase in the brain and accumulate in the form of plaques. This is accompanied by an increased concentration of tau proteins, which cluster together to form the neurofibrillary tangles that cause further damage to the nerve cells. These biochemical changes result in an imbalance in the brain and can lead to the decline in cognitive function and memory seen in AD.