Alzheimer's Research Paper

Neurodegeneration in the central nervous system can lead to a wide assortment of cognitive dysfunctions as the system itself consists of the brain and the spinal cord in its entirety. In a multitude of cases, Alzheimer’s disease has led to eventual deterioration of the cerebrum, the frontal lobe in particular. The disease has, in the utmost severity, led to the loss of reasoning skills, learning ability, sensory awareness, and has even gone as far as negatively impacting emotional response.

What is Alzheimer’s? It is characterized by plaques and tangles in the brain. According to Alzheimer's association Plaques are “microscopic clumps of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid” (Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia.) The tangles are another protein called tau that is twisted. When the proteins are twisted they are not able to receive proper nutrients. The cells start to decline and not work as well, and they eventually die. The tissue that the cells make up deteriorate and the person begins to lose memory and some brain activity. This is a fatal disease and no cure has been found yet.

I chose Alzheimer's disease for my disorder, commonly known as senile dementia. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia which is a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities enough to disrupt every day life. Alzheimer's causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse with time. I think I would choose to prescribe Aricept (donepezil) for treatment because it can be used at any stage of Alzheimer's. The common side effects are appetite loss, muscle cramps, drowsiness and nausea. Aricept is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to donepezil hydrochloride or to piperidine derivatives. If about to take Aricept somebody should notify their doctor if they have

Researchers explain that apolipoprotein ApoE4, a subtype of ApoE, plays a role in the movement and distribution of cholesterol to repair nerve cells during development and after injury. However, patients without ApoE4 are at a low risk from developing Alzheimer's. Patients with one copy of the gene have an increased chance of developing the disease than those with two copies of the gene (only 25% of the population carries two copies of E4 gene). A recent study found that a specific variation of the ApoE4 gene is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, which may explain why many people with ApoE4 do not show any signs of Alzheimer's (Qué es la enfermedad de Alzheimer?, n.d., para.

Alzheimer's is described as a major loss of memory and cognitive abilities that is so serious it interferes with daily life. The disease is known as

Some studies have shown that women are more likely to get it than men, but those studies can’t be 100% accurate because women live longer than men. Studies have also shown that a person who has received a head injury is at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, the risk is higher if when the injury occurred the person was 50 or over. There is no evidence to support that anyone person is more susceptible than another, it depends on genetics and family history. Alzheimer's in a rare inherited form can affect people as young as their 40’s. Alzheimer's is also the fourth leading cause of death in the elderly. (Alzheimer’s Europe, 2009).

“Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer's disease is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time”,

For example, Alzheimer’s is connected to genetics. Five to fifteen percent of Alzheimer cases are genetic and run in families. Specific gene abnormalities may be involved. It may be inherited when only one parent has the abnormal gene because it is dominant. An affected parent has a fifty percent chance of passing on the abnormal gene to each child. In many cases, these genes increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, but do not guarantee that the disease will develop before they reach 65. One gene abnormality affected is apolipoprotein E (apo E), which transports cholesterol through the bloodstream. Scientists are also studying a number of regions in the genome that increases a person’s risk. They have identified 33 regions of interest in the Alzheimer’s genome (“About Alzheimer’s”). The gene gets passed on. It is the eighth leading cause of death in America. One theory of the cause of Alzheimer’s is when a protein called beta-amyloid builds up plaques in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease becomes an economic burden on the family as that patient needs long term care and

Alzheimer's disease is a progressing disease that destroys the memory and other functions of the body. First sign of Alzheimer’s is the person may seem more confused than before and has a difficulty remembering. Over the time a person with the disease may even forget important people such a spouse, children, siblings, and other family/friends. This disease can cause a personality change within a person, causing them to have mood swings. Alzheimer’s disease the brain cells degenerate and die that causes the decline in memory and mental function. There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s affects over 40 million people around the world and four million in the US. It affects mostly the brain, but eventually affects the entire function

What is Alzheimer’s disease? It is a chronic brain disease that causes dementia, “a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life” (1). Dementia is affecting over 40 million people worldwide (2). Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common degenerative neurological disease, so it affects many of the body’s activities. For example, it has an impact on the patient’s breathing, talking, balance, movement, and heart function. One of the most characteristics of AD is that it begins slowly and gets worse over time.

Approximately 75% of participants involved in the Khachaturian study have reported having “first-degree-relatives” diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The prominent gene associated with the inheritance of Alzheimer’s is called apolipoprotein (APOE), which can appear in three forms (MayoClinic). The presence of two APOE e4 genes, inherited from both parents produces the greatest risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Mayoclinic). However, as Khachatuiran mentioned, genes are not the only probable source of Alzheimer’s disease. Based on the research, aluminum and infectious agents are also responsible for late onset Alzheimer’s (Khachaturian). The accumulation of metal in any form in the body can produce detrimental effects. Aluminum in particular, is associated with the presence of neurological tangles, which is a sign of Alzheimer’s. In terms of environmental factors, viruses that affect brain tissue can be associated with the implementation of Alzheimer’s. Similarly, Khachaturian correlates chronic diseases such as, arthritis, with Alzheimer’s disease because an association with amyloid production is

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 Cerebral Cortex or “Brain” consist of four lobes, the frontal, temporal, occipital and parietal lobe. The frontal lobe is used for reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving. The Temporal lobe has to do with understanding, memory and speech. The Occipital lobe is used for visual processing and the Parietal processes sensory of the 3 T’s, taste, temperature and touch. Alzheimer’s affects the frontal and temporal lobes more than the other two, from personal experience with my grandma, I noticed when she goes through an “episode” she blanks out, when I asked her “what’s my name?” She was hesitant to answer, at that moment she didn’t know who I was, so that would be a memory issue, her speech was slurred, and she displayed confusion and worry. Common signs to look for in other are, signs of memory loss, confusion, difficulty thinking or understanding and delusion such as relating things to a pass time or talk to themselves a lot. When communicating or talking look at their reactions when answered questions, are they aggressive, depressed. Do they repeat themselves, get paranoid or wander off, do they take their medication regularly or have insomnia. These are just some symptoms and signs of Alzheimer’s there

Many scientists believe that Alzheimer’s results from a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. Because many people are different in their genetic make-up and lifestyle, their chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease are also different. Most people who develop the disease after the age of 60 have “late-onset” Alzheimer’s. Many studies have linked the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene to late-onset Alzheimer’s. This gene has several forms, and one of them, APOE 4, seems to increase a person’s risk of developing the disease. However, other studies have also shown that carrying the APOE 4 of the gene does not necessarily mean that a person will develop Alzheimer’s disease, and a person not carrying APOE 4 can also develop the disease. Researchers working on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified eleven new genes that contribute to risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and this strengthened evidence about the disease of certain biological pathways, including amyloid metabolism and immune