Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset, UK.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019;1118:295-317. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-05542-4_15.
Alzheimer's disease affects approximately 6% of people over the age of 65 years. It is characterized as chronic degeneration of cortical neurons, with loss of memory, cognition and executive functions. As the disease progresses, it is accompanied by accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in key areas of the brain, leading to a loss of neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, along with changes in the levels of essential neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and glutamate. Individuals with concomitant diseases such as depression, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and those who have a healthier diet and partake in regular exercise and intellectual stimulation have a lower risk of developing the disorder. This chapter describes the advances made in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease as this could help to improve outcomes for the patients by facilitating earlier treatment.
阿尔茨海默病影响大约 6%的 65 岁以上人群。其特征为皮质神经元的慢性退化，伴有记忆、认知和执行功能的丧失。随着疾病的进展，大脑关键区域会出现淀粉样斑块和神经原纤维缠结，导致海马体中的神经发生和突触可塑性丧失，同时重要神经递质如乙酰胆碱和谷氨酸的水平也会发生变化。患有抑郁症、糖尿病和心血管疾病等合并症的个体患阿尔茨海默病的风险更高，而饮食更健康、定期进行运动和智力刺激的个体患该疾病的风险更低。本章描述了阿尔茨海默病早期诊断方面的进展，因为这有助于通过更早的治疗来改善患者的预后。
