Alzheimer's Disease Impacts on the Brain

Introduction

Alzheimer's Disease is frequently casually referred to, but very little can be said to truly grasp the extent of the effects it has on the brain. It is more than just being unable to recall the names of things or being unaware of the time. It is a condition in which the brain literally dismantles a working means of communication. According to Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, accounting for the vast majority of dementia cases. It begins years, decades, in fact, before the first symptom becomes apparent, continuing until memory, language, and even the ability to maintain everyday functions begin to wane.

What Happens Inside the Brain

In a normal brain, neurons are always talking to each other, creating and rearranging their pathways every time we think, move, or remember something. But in Alzheimer’s, two main things go wrong: amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Plaques are lumpy build-ups between nerve cells, while tangles are twisted fibers within those cells. Both prevent messages from getting through, killing brain cells.

The numbers are staggering.

• Around 6.9 million Americans aged 65+ live with Alzheimer’s.

• Over 70% of them are 75 or older.

• Worldwide, Alzheimer’s accounts for 60–70% of all dementia cases among the 55+ million affected.

There is as yet no cure, although some treatments can halt the progress of the condition.

Fun Fact: Did you know that the brain is only 2% of our body weight but accounts for 20% of our energy expenditure? That explains why small changes in our brain functions can have a huge impact on our experiences.

The Mind–Stress Connection

The University of Melbourne recently examined a relatively hidden facet of Alzheimer’s, which is the relationship between stress, anxiety, and cognitive function. In this study, conducted on 2,463 healthy participants ranging from 40 to 70 years of age, it was observed that higher levels of stress and anxiety were associated with poor performance on memory and attention tasks.

The results were derived from the Healthy Brain Project. The project tested the levels of stress, anxiety, and cognitive skills within the subjects using psychological scales. Individuals having clinically significant levels of anxiety, as well as those having both stress and anxiety, were found to have poor memory.

Even though the study can’t establish a cause-and-effect relationship because it's cross-sectional, it's a powerful illustration of a point many people don’t consider: long-term stress has more than just psychological effects—it can change the way the brain functions.

What We Can Do

Prevention doesn’t have to feel complicated. Protecting your brain comes down to a few consistent habits that pay off in the long run:

• Manage stress and anxiety: meditation, journaling, or even walks outside help reset your nervous system.

• Exercise your body. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which can enhance memory.

• Keep your heart healthy. What is good for the heart is, well, almost always good for your brain.

• Eat for your brain. Feed your brain cells. Eat lots of greens, fish, and whole grains.

• Challenge your mind: reading, learning, and puzzle-solving strengthen your mind.

• Sleep well: Deep sleep helps remove waste proteins associated with Alzheimer's, so the brain gets a nightly cleaning.

  
  

Fun Fact: Your brain has a “cleaning crew” called the glymphatic system. It becomes 10 times more active while you’re sleeping. It essentially washes away the accumulated toxins from the day.

Final takeaway

Alzheimer's can start in biology, but lifestyle determines how the process will follow. Recent research indicates that our activities today, our habits of sleeping, eating, exercising, and managing stress, can affect our brains decades later. The battle against Alzheimer's does not solely take place within science laboratories. It also occurs within ordinary, everyday life experiences, as people make choices to safeguard their minds against forgetting too soon.

Written by Rosie and researched by Sara

2025 The HEAL Project