Researchers have known for quite some time that tau proteins play an important part in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. As Alzheimer’s spreads, the brain becomes less and less capable of clearing tau proteins from the brain, resulting in a plaque buildup within brain cells. As this buildup worsens, dementia symptoms continue to increase.
But tau proteins are also present in healthy brains. In fact, new research shows that tau proteins are present in all brains and are actually a part of the learning process. However, the brain begins handling tau proteins differently when Alzheimer’s is present, leading to the hallmark symptoms that mark the disease. There is an enzyme called NSF that is inhibited when Alzheimer’s is present, and tau proteins begin to accumulate within the brain. NSF is a central factor in clearing out tau proteins when necessary, but when this stops, Alzheimer’s disease begins to spread within the brain.
This sheds some light on how tau proteins operate and may be an important component of how dementia may spread. More research is certainly needed here, but it’s a big step forward in our understanding of tau proteins and how they impact both dementia-affected and healthy brains.
This research was conducted at Flinders University. The team published their findings in The EMBO Journal. Hopefully this research helps future teams to build upon these findings and continue to understand dementia more thoroughly.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It is marked by memory loss, confusion, and issues with movement. Ultimately, this disease leads to death. Those who suffer from the disease see symptoms grow more and more severe as it progresses.
Many types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, do not have a cure. Although research like this does help us to further our understanding of how to make life a little bit better for those suffering from dementia, treatment is mostly about minimizing symptoms and helping to make people more comfortable as they progress throughout the disease.
Professional memory care can be helpful. Our in-home caregivers are trained to provide this type of care, in addition to traditional in-home care. Memory care is a specialized type of care that has many nuances to it, but we ensure that our caregivers receive thorough and ongoing training so that your family has the best care possible.
And best of all, in-home care is provided right in your loved one’s home. Research indicates that when care is provided in the home there is less disruption and symptoms can be managed for longer. When someone is relocated to a strange new spot, dementia symptoms often get a lot worse. When care is provided in a familiar place, cognitive decline is noticeably slower. In-home care isn’t perfect for everyone, but it is great for many.
So, if you’d like to learn a little bit more about how in-home care might benefit your family, please feel free to give us a call. We can walk you through what care might look like for your family’s unique set of needs and get you pointed in the right direction.
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