Alzheimer’s Disease

Music of “Silent Night” by Franz Gruber, Lyrics by Arie Perry, M.D.    

Alzheimer’s disease, a dementing disease, with progressive loss of memories
Cognitive deficits predominate, a several year course is the typical rate
With increased disease as we age, with increased disease as we age

Generalized atrophy, marked tauopathy, hydrocephalus ex vacuo secondarily
Hippocampal disease is especially severe, basal cholinergic output all but disappears
Neuron loss and gliosis are key, neuron loss and gliosis are key

Tangles abound, even ghost forms are found, tau paired helical filaments sure stick around
A-beta amyloid’s important in neuritic plaques, angiopathy makes vessels look somewhat like wax
Lobar hemorrhage is a perilous snag, lobar hemorrhage is a perilous snag

Familial disease, needs genetic expertise, early onset is often the first clue for these
Down’s syndrome has chromosome 21 APP, while others are linked to type 4 apoE
Presenilin mutations as well, presinilin mutations as well