IndexWhat is Alzheimer's?What does the immune system do?How is the immune system linked to Alzheimer's?The immune system is the defense stronger than the body against serious diseases, but cannot prevent every serious problem. Even the healthiest individuals can contract serious or even fatal non-communicable diseases such as cancer and fibromyalgia, to name a few. The immune system is extremely complex in how it functions and defends the body against disease. In recent news, "new evidence that the body's immune system interacts directly with the brain could lead to a new understanding of diseases from multiple sclerosis to Alzheimer's." If a link could be found between the immune system and a mental degeneration problem, then the possibility of discovering a cure for Alzheimer's would be more feasible than expected. The research behind this link is still relatively new, and tests are still underway to reach a further conclusion on how the Alzheimer's condition can be silenced through the immune system. Brain studies have established numerous links between the immune system and the prevention of serious medical conditions. To delve deeper into this point, "a study of human and monkey brains found lymphatic vessels - a key part of the body's immune system - in a membrane surrounding the brain and nervous system, a team reported Tuesday in the online journal eLife ". Rigorous testing is only the first step toward finding a cure or treatment for a serious disease. Furthermore, testing in animals is an essential aspect of introducing a new therapeutic option to the world. For example, “the new discovery reinforces recent evidence in rodents that the brain interacts with the body's lymphatic system to help fend off disease and remove waste. Until a few years ago, scientists believed that the brain's immune and waste-removal systems operated independently." Even until recently, understanding Alzheimer's has long been shrouded in uncertainty, and there are many more discoveries to be made on behalf of this condition. To find a link between Alzheimer's and the body's immune system, it is necessary to examine the Alzheimer's problem itself. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay What is Alzheimer's? Alzheimer's is a more advanced form of dementia, a disease that slowly eats away at the tissues of the brain. Dementia itself is not such a harmful condition due to its slow progression. However, Alzheimer's affects the structure of the brain much more quickly and aggressively than more timid forms of dementia. In fact, “Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for loss of memory and other cognitive abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80% of dementia cases." A large portion of the dementia community suffers from the condition of Alzheimer's, making this disease an epidemic. Alzheimer's cannot be diagnosed, but is closely associated with genetics and hereditary traits. Alzheimer's and dementia are considered conditions that affect older adults, however early-onset dementia or Alzheimer's is prevalent in North America and many other countries. A recent study revealed that “most people with Alzheimer's are 65 years of age or older. But Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 suffer from Alzheimer's diseaseyounger onset (also known as early onset Alzheimer's).” This statistic may seem surprising to people who believe that Alzheimer's and dementia only affect the elderly and mentally ill. The scariest aspect of Alzheimer's disease arises from the uncertainty of the condition itself. Many people know about Alzheimer's or at least have heard about it, but this disease is not fully diagnosedunderstandable. By definition, “Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, in which dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with advanced Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment." As Alzheimer's disease destroys the structure of the mind, the once-normal bodily functions of the Alzheimer's patient have been impaired. With the mind compromised, the body will follow the digressive path of the mental health condition. This will also directly affect the body's immune system, creating a link between Alzheimer's and the body's defense system. What does the immune system do? The immune system acts as a kind of armor and defends the body from specific irritations. These irritations include bacteria and any foreign elements that the body considers harmful. A normally functioning immune system does its best to eliminate and prevent chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis. To elaborate on this note, “the immune system interacting with the brain is critical to the development of multiple sclerosis and how we treat multiple sclerosis,” Reich says. However, the immune system is unable to prevent the body from contracting more harmful conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia. When it comes to Alzheimer's and dementia, the chemistry and structural integrity of the brain are compromised. For example, “these diseases occur when certain toxic waste products accumulate in the brain and the lymphatic vessels appear to be part of the system that usually removes these waste products.” Because the brain doesn't work as it was designed, the immune system has almost no chance to defend the body. To elaborate on this point, “the immune system protects the body as a guardian from harmful influences of the environment and is essential for survival. It is composed of several organs, cells and proteins and, apart from the nervous system, it is the most complex of the human body". Each organ works together to form a functional body and create a healthy, active human being. The immune system is tangible in the sense of how it can be treated or enhanced. Despite the normal functions of the immune system, a deconstructive mental illness such as Alzheimer's, can destroy the entire body of those who are left untreated. How is the immune system linked to Alzheimer's? Because every part of the body is connected via a series of organs and vessels, the immune system plays an important role in how everything in the body is protected. In recent studies, there has been "some evidence that there are vessels here that behave differently than blood vessels," Reich says. “But we weren't sure if they were lymphatic vessels.” Blood vessels in the brain are incredibly necessary for the immune system to function at its best. Blood supplies oxygen to the brain and all other organs in the body, further creating a link between the immune system and serious medical conditions. To put it in perspective, “without an immune system, a human being would be just as exposed to the harmful influences of pathogens or other substances from the external environment as to health-damaging changes occurring within the body.”,.