Alzheimer's Disease Research Paper

2010). The neuroinflammation is an early, non-specific immune reaction to tissue damage or pathogen invasion (Lee et al. 2010). Inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS) is characterized by increased glial activation, pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration, blood-brain-barrier permeability, and leukocyte invasion (Lee et al. 2010). Microglia are cells that support and protect neuronal functions (Lee at al. 2010). They act as the first and main form of active immune defense that orchestrate the endogenous immune response of the Central Nervous System. The microglia play a central role in the cellular response to pathological lesions such as Aβ. Aβ can attract and activate microglia, leading to clustering of microglia around Aβ deposits sites in the brain (Lee et al. 2010). Even though microglia have neuroprotective functions, neurotoxic mechanisms which involves continuous activation of microglia and toxic factors are released by microglia, which may lead to neuroinflammation (Lee et al. 2010). Astrocytes (star-shaped glial cells) are the most abundant cells in the brain and are located in the brain and spinal. Astrocytes have various functions such as: biochemical support of endothelial cells of the BBB, supplying nutrients to the nervous tissue, maintenance of extracellular ion balance, and healing the brain and spinal cord following traumatic injury (Lee et al., 2010). Chemokines are released by astrocytes which attract microglia and they further express proinflammatory products, thus increasing neuronal damage in the pathogenesis of AD (Lee et al., 2010). Astrocytes play a critical role in Aß clearance and degradation, and they also provide trophic support to neurons forming a protective barrier between Aß deposits and neurons (Wyss-Coray et al., 2003). Neurons contribute to the production of

Imagine if every individual on Earth traveled and attempted to live on a different planet. In reality, lifeforms on Earth cannot sustain life on another planet, it is impossible. The reason being is that lifeforms on Earth require specific (environmental factors) climate, nutrition, and atmospheric exposure. Therefore, an apocalypse could happen through neurodegenerative disorders, excessive climate change (rainfall), and depletion of the ozone layer caused by global warming.

Inflammation is a reaction of tissues in response to any injury the human or vertebrae sustains. Neuroinflammation is the inflammatory response by the glial cells that are present in the nervous system along with neurons. It is an immune response to pathogen invasion or tissue damage most likely to be caused by Infectious bacteria, Traumatic brain injury (TBI), or toxic metabolites. The nervous system contains neurons and glial cells composed of astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells in the Central nervous system (CNS), and Schwann cells, satellite cells in Peripheral nervous system (PNS). The glial cells are non-neuronal cells that help to form myelin, maintain homeostasis, provide support for neurons with nutrients, destroy

Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, is a progressive mental deterioration that destroys memory and other important mental functions which can happen in middle or old age. Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and is the fifth leading cause among people aged 65 years and over. In 2012, the state of Kentucky reported 1,462 deaths from Alzheimer’s disease which is a 73 percent increase since the year 2000 (The Alzheimer’s Association, 2015).

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological progressive degenerative disease that has debilitating effects on those stricken. While Alzheimer’s disease will manifest itself in the aged, it can also appear as early as the 40’s. Additionally, Alzheimer’s disease does affect both genders, but is more harshly prevalent with female population. Female population usually represents 60% of the Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. There is no known cause for this disease only speculation that it could come from environmental or genetic risk factors. It is believed that the brain size shrinks allowing for fewer nerve cells and connections to make communication. Along with nerve cells

Specially, the exposure of brain parenchyma to blood circulation and the release of danger-associated molecule signals from damaged cells that initiate epileptogenic inflammatory cascades. In chronic neuro-inflammation, astrocytes and microglial cells act in a deleterious manner contributing in sustained release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines (such as S100B, interleukins [i.e., IL-1B,IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interferon-y-inducible protein-10 (IP-10)), transforming growth factor (TGF) and proteases. The sensitive reactivation process and the inducible overproduction of pro-inflammatory mediators make astrocyte a very important contributor to the neuro-inflammation in the early onset of brain

Microglia are resident immune cells in the CNS, separated from many blood-borne molecules by the BBB. However, evidence suggests that BBB endothelial cells either act as transporters of hormones and cytokines across the BBB or as classic receptor sites, possibly reacting to signals in the blood by secreting other signals into the CNS.8 By these mechanisms, microglia can become activated in response to inflammatory stimulation such as the cytokines and hormones that cross the BBB.9 Also, metabolic disease frequently leads to compromise of the BBB, providing greater access for circulating molecules to the CNS. It is not clear whether metabolic disease causes microglia to weaken the BBB, or whether the BBB is weakened first, with microglia then

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease. It is a form of dementia most common in older individuals, identifiable to scientists by the presence of amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Most individuals associate the disease with memory loss, unusual behavior and moods, and watching their loved ones fade away. While there are recognized genetic risk factors that may contribute to disease-onset, environmental and lifestyle factors also play a role in disease development. Five FDA approved medications are currently on the market to treat symptoms, but none are capable of halting or slowing progression of the disease, nor are they capable of treating underlying causes. Though there is currently no known cure, scientists are working to

Psychology is an applied as well as an academic field that studies both the human mind and behavior. The research in psychology attempts to explain and understand behavior, emotion and thought. The subject of psychology was created when Wilhelm Wundt opened up the very first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany. Wilhelm Wundt believed that individuals who are appropriately trained would most likely be able to recognize the mental processes that are accompanied with feelings, thoughts and sensations (Wagner , 2009).

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and a significant secondary cause of death in many countries of the world. It is estimated that 5.3 million people currently have Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. Although Alzheimer’s disease is not yet curable, within the past decade, researchers have concentrated on music therapy as a beneficial palliative treatment for people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. The use of music therapy in the treatment of Alzheimer’s patients should be considered in the medical field as a way to help relieve some of the symptoms that come from this terrible disease.

The disease that I have chosen to research related to elder health is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is particularly interesting to me because my grandpa is currently suffering from this disease. I have seen how the disease completely takes over the person and how rapidly the patient declines over time. It is heartbreaking and I hope someone finds a cure for this horrible disease soon. Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by a mixture of environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors. In a patient with Alzheimer’s, the brain has abnormal areas with clumps and bundles of abnormal proteins, which damage connections between the brain cells. (Alzheimer’s Disease)

The cells of the brain and the spinal cord have neurons that transmit information, which generates perception and thought. These neurons contain layer of fatty covering, called myelin. In a person suffering from Multiple Sclerosis the neurons are affected by inflammation and the myelin can be damaged, which causes a breakdown in the transmission of information to the brain and the spinal cord (Browning ,Sedrak, 2012). The disease is composed of inflammatory plaques, which have axonal and neuronal degeneration or astrocytic scares (Browning ,Sedrak, 2012). Although, the cause is unknown, there continues to be speculation surrounding the direct connection to certain environmental exposures such as, toxins, bacteria and fluctuations in lifestyles.

Since antibodies are not normally present in the CNS, microglial cells are the main active immune defense. As they are extremely plastic, microglia can adopt different morphologies, which two of the most important are the ramified and the activated one. The highly ramified morphology corresponds to the “resting” microglia, with long branches constantly moving and a small cellular body. The activated microglia presents a small amoeboid cell body with thicker and retracted branches, and it is associated with a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Microglial cells can go through the classical activation by stimulation with LPS and IFN-γ and can produce pro-inflammatory cytokines/mediators such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CCL2, ROS, and NO18,19; suggesting that these molecules contribute to dysfunction of neural network in the CNS20. The microglia in this state is termed “M1 microglia”, while “M2 microglia” is used to include the states of both alternative activation21. IL-4 and IL-13 can induce alternative activation,

Microglia was suggested to play neuro-protective as well as neurotoxic roles in Alzheimer’s disease progression (Giulian, Haverkamp et al. 1996; Streit

By the process that involve on interplay between genetic and environmental factors, it activates T cell in the periphery. The pro-inflammatory cells cross the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB), penetrate the CNS. in response to CNS antigen, the pro-inflammatory cells are reactivate locally in contact with antigen-presenting cell which stimulate an inflammatory response. The pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulate the activation of macrophage and microglial in which they produce other pro-inflammatory mediators and oxygen and nitric oxide radicles, in which they lead to degrade the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB), recruit other immune cells (B cells) to make antibodies for myelin, and produce toxic myelin. Ultimately, they lead to demyelination and axon