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Let's begin by looking at what we currently understand about the neuroscience of Alzheimer's.
讓我們先看看目前神經學上對老年癡呆的了解。
Here's a picture of two neurons connecting.
這是一張兩個神經元連接的圖。
The point of connection, this space circled in red, is called the synapse.
連接的部位，也就是紅色圈出的這塊，叫做突觸。
The synapse is where neurotransmitters are released.
突觸是神經遞質釋放的場所，
This is where signals are transmitted, where communication happens.
這是信號傳送、交流的場所。
This is where we think, feel, see, hear, desire ... and remember.
這是我們思考、感受、視聽、欲望和記憶的場所。
And the synapse is where Alzheimer's happens.
而突觸也正是老年癡呆發病的地方。
Let's zoom in on the synapse and look at a cartoon representation of what's going on.
讓我們把突觸放大，看一則動畫演示。
During the business of communicating information, in addition to releasing neurotransmitters like glutamate into the synapse,
在信息溝通的過程中，除了釋放谷氨酸等神經遞質到突觸，
neurons also release a small peptide called amyloid beta.
神經元還釋放了一種名為β淀粉樣蛋白的小肽。
Normally, amyloid beta is cleared away metabolized by microglia, the janitor cells of our brains.
正常情況下，β淀粉樣蛋白在新陳代謝時會被清除，由我們大腦的看護細胞小神經膠質細胞處理。
While the molecular causes of Alzheimer's are still debated,
盡管分子層面引發老年癡呆的原因還爭論不休，
most neuroscientists believe that the disease begins when amyloid beta begins to accumulate.
大多數神經學家相信β淀粉樣蛋白的累積引發了老年癡呆。
Too much is released, or not enough is cleared away, and the synapse begins to pile up with amyloid beta.
釋放了太多，或者是未能完全清理，突觸因此便開始堆積β淀粉樣蛋白。
And when this happens, it binds to itself, forming sticky aggregates called amyloid plaques.
若這一事件發生，突觸逐漸束縛了自己，產生一種叫做淀粉樣斑塊的黏糊糊的聚合體。
