Implications of Improper Protein Folding in Alzheimer ’s Disease Stephen Sewell Schreiner University Dr. McGinnis Biochemistry Fall 2012 Abstract This paper is a brief review of the understanding of Alzheimer’s as it is generally seen today in the medical field, by scientists, physicians, and other healthcare providers alike. It examines the main hypothesis for the pathogenesis of the disease and the physical changes that the disease causes to the brain. The paper will then detail some of the treatments that are given to the patient. These include the drug related and non-drug related treatment options that are available, and discusses at what stage of the disease that they are used. Introduction Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of memory and other cognitive abilities essential for the function of a healthy human being. Neuropathologically, the disease is characterized by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques, impaired synaptic function and cell loss.1 There is a major loss of cholinergic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic neurons while at the same time there is an accumulation of free radicals and oxidative stress, leading to lipid peroxidation and neuronal degeneration in the tissues of the brain. Not only are there major physiological changes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, but with these changes come cognitive symptoms as well. These include disruptions in memory, language, thinking,
Alzheimer’s disease is a common problem in today’s society and within the older population this disease makes up the largest form of dementia. Although it is a problem in mainly older people, this disease can still occur in the younger population also. People in their 30s-50s can be diagnosed with this disease, even though it is not as common as people in their 60s-90s. The number of people with Alzheimer’s in the U.S. is close to five million and is expected to double within the next 30 years. With our modern medicine and advancements one would think a cure would be available, however, getting to the cause of the disease is a major factor. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is one that is very debatable and questionable and most likely is a result of multiple factors rather than one. The main issue with finding the cause is because this disease affects the brain and can
Alzheimer’s Disease is a disease of the future. With the growing aged population, this disease, which affects primarily the elderly, will become of increasing relevance to the medical profession. Also, the high frequency of Alzheimer’s, and the high cost in labor, money, and material of caring for its victims shall put considerable burden on the society as a whole. Here, however, these issues are not going to be debated. Instead the pathology of Alzheimer’s will be reviewed to the extent it is known today.
Alzheimer’s disease is a complex illness that affects the brain tissue directly and undergoes gradual memory and behavioral changes which makes it difficult to diagnose. It is known to be the most common form of dementia and is irreversible. Over four million older Americans have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to triple in the next twenty years as more people live into their eighties and nineties. (Johnson, 1989). There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but throughout the past few years a lot of progress has been made.
“What is Alzheimer’s disease (AD)?” Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia that affects an individual’s memory, cognition, and behavior disturbances that ultimately diminishes their quality of life.1-2 Dementia is not a specific disease it is a general term for a variety of symptoms that affect memory and intellectual thinking that causes difficulty in our tasks of daily living.(5) The confusion between these two terms is extraordinary. It’s helpful to think of dementia as the symptom and to think of AD as the cause of that symptom. Although, there are many causes of dementia for the purpose of this paper, Alzheimer’s will be the only one discussed.
Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects a lot of older people. It not only affects the person but their families, friends, and any loved ones. The disease makes them forget almost everything they have experienced in their life. The memories they have of anything can be almost nil and they will not act like themselves anymore. This disease is a hard disease for someone’s family members to cope with because the person they once knew, is all but gone. In this paper I will be explaining the definition of the Alzheimer’s disease, what comes of the disease, and what treatment options there are.
Alzheimer Disease, the most common form of dementia (to a group of symptoms affecting the brain), is a neurological disorder affecting an individual’s memory, thinking skills, and ability to conduct simply everyday tasks. Alzheimer Disease is irreversible, and no cure has been established. Dr. Alois Alzheimer-the individual in which the disease is named after-detected Alzheimer in 1906 from a woman with abnormal clumps and tangled neurofibrillary (Castellani 2010). These characteristics of the brain are now directly associated with Alzheimer Disease. There are essentially two forms of the disease. Both experience the same symptoms, but one is early onset and the second is late onset. In early onset Alzheimer Disease, symptoms develop as early as 30 years of age. Late onset AD, the most common form, develops at sixty years of age and older. A family history of the disease does improve the individual’s probability of experiencing symptoms. The progression of this paper will consist of the medical changes caused by Alzheimer, how an individual can obtain it, and lastly prevention methods discovered throughout the years.
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. To date, it is officially ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States; however, recent estimates indicate that the disorder may actually rank third, just behind heart disease and cancer, as a cause of death for older people. Alzheimer’s, also known as senile dementia, is predominantly the most common cause of dementia among older adults. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning and behavioral abilities, particularly thinking, remembering, and reasoning, to such an extent that it interferes with an
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a form of dementia that affects 5 million people in the United States alone. One out of every three Seniors die of the disease just in the United States; 80 million suffering world wide making AD the 6th largest cause of death (climax) (Humpel 1; Alzheimer’s Association). AD is the most common dementia; affecting the neuroplasticity of the brain resulting in physical shrinking of the tissues; thus causing neurodegeneration. Diagnosis of the disease is complex, costly and risky. (tricolon) Behaviors are categorized and most commonly constructed in a list of stages. Treatments have been unsuccessful in curing the disease. Ramon y Cajal proclaimed in 1928 that “once development has ended, the founts of growth and regeneration of the axons and dendrites dried up irrevocably. In the adult centers the nerve paths are soothing fixed, ended and immutable. Everything must die, nothing may be regenerated. It is for the science of the future to change, if possible, this harsh decree” (Teter 402).
With all of the advanced technology that the medical field possesses today, there is still suffering that occurs from incurable diseases. Alzheimer's Disease is one of those incurable diseases that take the lives of many today. This paper will examine
Main reason for cognition decline could be buildup of plaque and dysfunctional proteins in the brain interfering with neuronal function. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease that accounts for more than 60 % of all dementia cases. The disease is characterized by cognitive deficits and memory loss through a process that lead to the presence of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). This plaque is composed of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the brain. Amyloid beta (Aβ or Abeta) is a peptide of 36–43 amino acids, forms amyloid plaques in the brain and are toxic to nerve cells. These peptides result from the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is cleaved
Dementia is a progressive brain dysfunction. In Latin, 'dementia ' means irrationality, which results in a restriction of daily activities. Alzheimer’s disease was first identified more than 100 years ago, but research into its symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment has only progressed in the last several years. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 1906, German physician Alois Alzheimer was “one of the first to link
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative disorder of insidious onset, characterized by memory loss, confusion, and a variety of cognitive disabilities. It is the major cause of dementia in the elderly and is characterized by the presence of neuropathologic lesions including: neurofibrillary tangles in the neuronal perikarya and in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and neocortex, nucleus basalis of Meynert, and periaqueductal gray. Neuritic (senile) plaques often with a central or core deposition of amyloid within the plaque and in some cases with amyloid infiltration of blood vessel walls (amyloid angiopathy) and the adjacent perivascular neuropil; loss of neurons,
Alzheimer 's Disease is a name that is not entirely uncommon. Alzheimer 's is a disease that has only recently been classified as one, though it is not uncommon to mankind. Before Dr. Alzheimer officially diagnosed it has been present before under the premise of old age and dementia, as both disorders are a disruption of neural pathways related to memory and normal brain operation. Memory in this sense is not bound to the idea of experiences worth cherishing, but also incorporates loss of memory related to operation and usage of many everyday tasks. Despite a lack of understanding of this problem, continuing research into Alzheimer 's disease shows that there are viable treatment options, along with potential for a cure.
“Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States”(“2015 Alzheimer’s…”). Today, more and more individuals are diagnosed with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. This disease is not curable and the symptoms get worse over a period of time. After a closer investigation on the causes, symptoms, effects, diagnosis, and treatments, one discovers the severity of this dreaded disease and how it is managed.
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia, a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. Its symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. There is no known cure for it at this time, and has only but a few treatment options to help temporarily improve symptoms. More than three million US cases are diagnosed per year for the ages 65+, and over 200,000 cases in those younger than 65 and is the 6th leading cause of death among US citizens, roughly 60% - 80% of all dementia cases are Alzheimer's cases. The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease is increase of age.