Final answer:
Alzheimer's disease disrupts neural pathways by forming amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that result in synaptic loss and neuron death, potentially leading to excitotoxicity and impairing neuronal communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alzheimer's disease disrupts neural pathways by inducing cellular and molecular changes in the brain. The development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles is central to this disruption. Amyloid plaques, which form between brain cells, and neurofibrillary tangles, which develop inside neurons, are hallmark characteristics of Alzheimer's. These pathological features lead to synaptic loss and the death of neurons. Amyloid-beta (Aß) peptides have been found to impair glutamate transporters and promote glutamate release, potentially leading to excitotoxicity and synaptic spine loss. Furthermore, hyperphosphorylated tau, another protein implicated in Alzheimer's, may interfere with receptor trafficking, compounding the disruption of neuronal communication and synaptic maintenance. Despite current treatments that manage symptoms, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease as it hijacks the aging process, with research ongoing to understand and prevent these devastating alterations in brain function.