Observation Of Alzheimer's Disease

In recent years, the study of the mechanisms affecting and causing Alzheimer's disease has been closely studied. Alzheimer's disease is the main cause of dementia in that it causes rapid atrophy of the outer cortex of the hippocampus in the brain. As a result, this cell degeneration ultimately gives rise to the array of cognitive impairments, including memory loss, confusion, irritability, loss of stream of consciousness, and depression. Cranial nerve one (CN I), serves as the olfactory nerve where it’s responsibility lies in that of the sense of smell. Smell bypasses the thalamus where most cranial nerves reside, and instead travels to the limbic system. Consequently, this bypass is the reason why the link between smell and memory recognition is fundamental.

Purpose
It was postulated that olfactory sensations are reduced where neuropathology begins. As a result, this experiment was conducted to examine the extent of disintegration of olfactory sensation residuals cerebral enriched blood in patients with AD. If understood more, possible treatment involving olfaction manipulation can be induced in