What is Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s?

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s are like when your brain starts forgetting how to do its favorite tricks.

Your brain is full of tiny workers called neurons, and they help you think, remember things, and even walk. In Alzheimer’s, these workers start getting confused and tired. It's like when you've been playing with toys for a very long time, you get tired and can't find the right toy anymore.

Plaques and tangles are two big problems in Alzheimer’s. Think of plaques as sticky gum that builds up between neurons, making it hard for them to talk to each other. Tangles are like tangled yarn inside the neurons themselves, they make the workers struggle to do their job properly.

As time goes on, more and more neurons get tired or stop working altogether. This is why people with Alzheimer’s might forget names, lose their way home, or even forget how to brush their teeth.

Sometimes, it's as if the brain is trying to remember something important, like a song you’ve heard many times before, but can't quite catch the notes anymore. That’s what happens when Alzheimer’s takes hold.