Understanding Alzheimer's Disease Progression

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Alzheimer's disease results from the buildup of a protein called amyloid beta in the brain, which can lead to the formation of amyloid plaques. This accumulation of plaques over 10 to 20 years can trigger a molecular cascade causing neurofibrillary tangles, leading to cell death and eventually dementia. While Alzheimer's and dementia are often used interchangeably, they are not the same.

Original broadcast date: December 23, 2022. Our brains are magnificently complex - and highly fallible. This hour, neuroscientist and novelist Lisa Genova explains how to keep our brains healthy and what to do when something goes wrong.

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