Brain deterioration - where do the atoms go?

euser1984

If you have something such as dementia or alzeimers where do the atoms that made up the healthy tissue and nerves, go as the disease progresses?

Thanks.

endacl

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/seclaw.html

euser1984

endacl wrote: »

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/seclaw.html

Are you sure that's the right link?

endacl

euser1984 wrote: »

Are you sure that's the right link?

Yep. Entropy. The universe tends towards disorder.

Morbert

euser1984 wrote: »

If you have something such as dementia or alzeimers where do the atoms that made up the healthy tissue and nerves, go as the disease progresses?

Thanks.

Efferocytosis is the process through which dead cells are safely disposed of. Dead cells are eaten by phagocytes before they can rupture and poison the surrounding area.

Papers like this one ( http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2014.00354/full ) suggest that risk of Alzheimer's is increased when efferocytosis is impaired. I.e. An excess of dead cells that aren't being disposed of increases the risk of Alzheimer's. So the problem is the atoms aren't safely disposed of.

[disclaimer - Not a biologist so take everything I say with a grain of salt]