Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comprehensive Review of its Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that results in the loss of memory, motor function, ability to think, and other basic functions required for day-to-day life. The causes of the disease are still being investigated, but scientists and researchers have mostly agreed on one of the major genetic contributions to the disease. The excess buildup of two proteins, Tau and β-amyloid, limits communication between nerve cells or neurons. The buildup of these proteins only increases with the progression of the disease. This paper will discuss the genetic causes of AD, the process behind the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques, recent neuroimaging techniques that help diagnose the disease, current symptomatic treatments, and upcoming future treatments that may be able to slow the progression of the disease significantly.