Patient/caregiver was instructed upon pathophysiology of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as follows:
- A number of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, glutamic acid, dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, play a significant role in regulating various body functions like memory, mood, behavior, and body movements.
- These neurotransmitters in the brain have to be finely balanced to promote optimal body functions. Any disturbance in their regulation can lead to compromised memory, cognition, depression, anxiety, and altered muscle mechanics and body movements.
- Acetylcholine is one of the various other neurotransmitters in the brain, playing significant role in the functionality of memory and cognition. Acetylcholine produced in the brain binds to receptors called cholinergic receptors, located on the nerve cells. This binding of acetylcholine with the cholinergic receptors leads to stimulation of these receptors and utilization of acetylcholine by the cholinergic neurons promotes learning and memory.
- After the cholinergic neurons utilize the acetylcholine secreted into the synapse, any extra acetylcholine left in the synapse is broken down or hydrolyzed by an enzyme called cholinesterase, to prevent continued persistent activation of the cholinergic receptors, as this can progressively lead to destruction of nervous tissues in the brain.
- Selective loss/destruction of cholinergic neurons in the brain is considered one very important factor that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Reduced number of cholinergic neurons contributes to underutilization of acetylcholine in the nervous tissues, reduced cholinergic transmission, and thus leads to signs and symptoms of Alzheimer ’s disease, such as, memory loss and cognitive deficits.
