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What happens when the brain's function declines?

Some of us will develop diseases of the brain that affect our memory, and how we understand and communicate. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Certain proteins have been found to damage brain cells. One type of protein forms ‘plaques’ which impair brain cells’ function, causing them to die. A different type of protein forms ‘tangles’ which change the structure of brain cells. We also know that certain chemicals in the brain which transmit messages between neurons become depleted. Most forms of dementia cannot be cured, but research is continuing to identify treatments, including the development of drugs to help alleviate some of the symptoms.