alzheimer’s disease -> the disease of darkness
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Alzheimer’s Disease -> The Disease of Darkness. Varun Doshi. Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease is a FATAL progressive degenerative disorder that attacks brain nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in the loss of memory, thinking, language skills, and behavior. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Alzheimer’s Disease -> The Disease of Darkness
Varun Doshi
Alzheimer’s Disease• Alzheimer’s
Disease is a FATAL progressive degenerative disorder that attacks brain nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in the loss of memory, thinking, language skills, and behavior.
Alzheimer’s – Who is Affected?• Older people are
affected. Chances of getting Disease increases with 65 + age.
• Family history plays a big role in disease development
• Comes in three stages, diagnosed second most of the time.
Inside the Human Brain
To understand Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to know a bit about the brain…
The Brain’s Vital Statistics• Adult weight: about 3 pounds
• Adult size: a medium cauliflower
• Number of neurons: 100,000,000,000 (100 billion)
• Number of synapses (the gap between neurons): (100 trillion)
Inside the Human Brain
The Three Main Players
1.Cerebral Hemispheres
2.Cerebellum
3.Brain Stem
Inside the Human Brain
Neurons
• To stay healthy, neurons must communicate with each other, carry out metabolism, and repair themselves.
• AD disrupts all three of these essential jobs.
Stages of ADStage One:Warning Signs!- Difficulty with familiar tasks- Memory Loss ( most commonly known)- Language Difficulty- Disorientation- Mood/Behavioral/Personality change- Misplacing objects, & cannot trace their steps- Difficulty of harder thinking- Poor Judgment
Stage Two : NURSING HOME
- Increase in memory loss
- Shortened Attention Span
- Difficulty in recognizing Loved ones
- Difficulty learning new things
- Difficulty organizing thoughts
- Reduced Impulse control ( walking, eating, etc.)
Stage ThreeBACK TO INFANCY
- Entire Loss of language, memory, bladder, bowel, and physical coordination- Difficulty Swallowing
- Noise Making, CANNOT SPEAK- Weight Loss. Usually severe…cannot eat!
- Increased Sleeping* DEATH RESULTS IN THE INABILITY TO EAT, USE THE
BATHROOM, AND BREATHE.
Plaques and Tangles: The Hallmarks of ADThe brains of people with AD have an abundance of two abnormal structures:
An actual AD tangle
• beta-amyloid plaques, which are dense deposits of protein and cellular material that accumulate outside and around nerve cells
• neurofibrillary tangles, which are twisted fibers that build up inside the nerve cell
AD and the Brain
Slide 16
Beta-amyloid PlaquesAmyloid precursor protein (APP) is the precursor to amyloid plaque. 1. APP sticks through the neuron
membrane.2. Enzymes cut the APP into fragments of protein, including beta-amyloid.3. Beta-amyloid fragments come together in clumps to form plaques.
1.
2.
3.
AD and the Brain
In AD, many of these clumps form, disrupting the work of neurons. This affects the hippocampus and other areas of the cerebral cortex.
Neurofibrillary Tangles
Neurons have an internal support structure partly made up of microtubules. A protein called tau helps stabilize microtubules. In AD, tau changes, causing microtubules to collapse, and tau proteins clump together to form neurofibrillary tangles.
AD and the Brain
TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMERS
• ACHIEs-Donepezil 38 weeks– Rivastigmine 38–42 weeks– Galantamine 52 weeks
DRUGS USED
INTRANSAL INSULIN
NANOTECHNOLOGY
STEM CELLS Stem cells could, can be
genetically modified so as to deliver substances to the Alzheimer brain, to stop cells from dying and stimulate the function of existing cells. A recent clinical trial (Phase I) has shown this approach to be of some benefit to patients with Alzheimer’s disease, by slowing down the progression of the disease.
REFRENCES• BOOKS- K.D Tripathi , Rang and Dale• WEBhttp://www.alz.org/
alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp
www.HealthyYears.org ,www.alzheimers.org
www.alz.org/10signshttp://www.medicinenet.com/
alzheimers_disease_causes_stages_and_symptoms/article.htm