Investigate brain diseases: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Alignment
4-LS1-1. Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
Learning Outcomes
- Students become familiar with different types of neurological diseases, understand why they occur, and understand how this affects people with the disease.
- Students learn how brain cells form networks to carry out different functions.
- Students learn about Alzheimer and Parkinson’s diseases.
Discussion Questions
1. What is Alzheimer’s Disease? What is Parkinson’s Disease?
2. What happens when brain cells die or cannot communicate with each other?
3. How can scientists and doctors work together to help people with brain diseases?
Video 1
Video 2
Vocabulary
Neuron: brain cells responsible for sending and receiving messages. The brain’s post office!
Neuronal network: A community of neurons communicating with each other by sending and receiving messages
Neuritic plaques: clumps of proteins in the brain that disrupt brain cell function.
Alzheimer’s disease: brain disease that causes loss of memory, problem-solving and other thinking abilities. This disease gets worse over time.
Parkinson’s disease: brain disease that causes shaking, balance problems, and slow movements. This disease gets worse over time.
Review
When brain cell communication stops working properly, many functions of the body are affected
In Parkinson’s disease, brain cells die in the part of the brain that helps start a movement. This causes movement problems that can get worse with time.
In Alzheimer's disease the brain cell communication is disrupted and brain cells die in many parts of the brain; as a result the brain shrink in size.
People living with Alzheimer’s disease can have difficulties remembering and thinking through things; these difficulties can get worse with time.
