Relationship Between Alzheimer's Disease And Down Syndrome

Alzheimer 's disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain from which there is no recovery. There are three brain abnormalities that are the hallmarks of the Alzheimer’s disease is initially caused by plaques buildup in the brain’s neurons as illustrated in figure 1. The support structure that allows the flow of the nutrients through the neurons gets damaged and ultimately there is loss of connection among the neurons and they die off (National Institute of Health, 2015). This causes the brain tissue to shrinks, which is called atrophies. All this ultimately lead the victim of this disease to face difficulties in governing emotions, recognize errors and patterns, coordinate movement, and remember. Ultimately, a person with AD loses all memory and mental functioning.

Having Down syndrome can also increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s as well as diabetes. Diabetes is linked to Alzheimer’s due to the fact they have both been linked to cardiovascular diseases. They both exhibit utilization of glucose in the brains. These two diagnoses are so much alike that it is hard to tell an Alzheimer’s brain from a diabetic’s brain. The manufacturing of insulin in the brain is condensed and the nerve cells are less sensitive. Diabetic drugs are now being tested to see if they could possibly help out Alzheimer patients. Another factor I found very interesting was that people with less than 6 years of some type of higher education appear to have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. From these studies, it was assumed that the brain stimulation students receive actually provides some type of protective barrier for the brain therefore not allowing of the onset of the deterioration of the mind. Now that’s a good slogan for college and higher education if you ask me.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and fatal form of dementia, frequently seen in the elderly altering their cognition, thought process and behavior. AD is reported in about half of patients that have a dementia diagnosis; one study states that about 10.3% of the population over 65 years is affected by dementia with an increase to almost 50% over the age of 8 (Beattie, 2002). Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of the aging process in humans, but rather found in a group of diseases that affect the brain leading to a decline in mental and physical control. AD when diagnosed has a very slow and gradual course, initially affecting the individual’s short term memory (Beattie, 2002). Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death, affecting more than five million people in the United States and is also one of the most common forms of dementia. Dementia can be defined as a disorder of progressive cognitive impairment severe enough to affect daily functions of an individual’s life (Fillit, et al., 2002).

Alzheimer's Disease is an irreversible brain disorder that occurs in older adults. 5.2 million people in the United States live with this disease. Dementia is a disease caused by Alzheimer’s. Dementia is the serious loss of mental disabilities such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating; It is also not a normal part of aging. Although Dementia is the cause of Alzheimer, they differ in many ways. From signs and symptoms, to treatment and care. There are many things that set these two disorders apart but also quite a few similarities. It is also very important to remember and understand that not everyone progresses at the same pace.

The genetic variant increases the disease risk but is not a direct cause however. Inheritance change is linked to at least one of the three genes that were discussed above. It affects members of at least two generations and makes up 1% of Alzheimer cases. Most people that have Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s because they have the extra chromosome 21. Deterministic genes are a direct cause of the disease, those who inherit deterministic genes will likely develop a disorder. Inheritance of the gene may appear in a new family if not it is a 50/50 chance. For example, a child whose mother or father carries a genetic mutation for eFAD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the mutation. If the mutation is inherited, the child will have a strong possibility of developing eFAD. Most cases of eFAD are inherited and other cases the disease is developed without any specific known cause.

Recent research has shown links between particular genes and Alzheimer’s disease, but in bout 90% of Alzheimer's cases; there is no clear genetic link. With help of standardized diagnostic criteria, physicians can now diagnose Alzheimer’s disease with an accuracy of 80-90% once symptoms occur. However definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is possible only through the examination of brain tissue at an autopsy. Scientist still isn’t certain what causes the disease. Scientist is exploring the role of genetics in the development of Alzheimer's disease, focusing on chromosome 19. Rare forms of the disease, which strike people in their 30’s & 40’s often run within families and appear to be related to chromosome 1, chromosome 14, and chromosome 21. Many researchers and physicians are coming to believe that Alzheimer’s disease is a complex disease, probably caused by a variety of influences. To help those are affected by Alzheimer's disease an association has

Down syndrome is not an illness but known as a genetic condition where there is an extra chromosome 21 (Chang & Johnson, 2014). People who are affected by this condition experience cognitive delays. The most common is the intellectual disability (ID), which involves difficulty in problem solving, intellectual reasoning, communicating to express themselves, talking to other people, and performing activities of daily living (Gluck, 2014). Based on the research, they are also at high risk of developing several medical conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes because they are more exposed to risk impacts such as absence of activity and poor dietary patterns and become overweight (Tracey, 2011).

Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is the most common form of Dementia which is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. Based on 2018 Alzheimer’s Association statistics, there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s over the age of 65 (Alzheimer’s Association, 2018). Many scientists state the death rate for heart disease has declined by 11% while death by Alzheimer’s has raised by 123% (Alzheimer’s Association, 2018). It is considered to be the 6th leading cause of death in the United States (Alzheimer’s Association, 2018). Alzheimer’s disease(AD) is an abnormal aging

People who suffer from Down Syndrome tend to be at larger risk for early-onset because they tend to age faster. The early-onset form appears to be traced back to defect in a specific area of a patient 's DNA: chromosome 14.Trisomy is when an extra copy of a chromosome is present in the cell nuclei. This later causes developmental abnormalities. Myoclonus is the form of muscle spasm and twitching which is more common is this disorder. The inheritance pattern of the late and early-onset Alzheimer disease is still unknown. "People who inherit one copy of the APOE e4 allele have an increased chance of developing the disease; those who inherit two copies of the allele are at even greater risk" (Steve).

According to Lu and Bludau (2011), Alzheimer disease is a degenerative disease of the brain that can lead to dementia and impair all brain functioning. Biologically, Alzheimer’s disease is believed to be caused by abnormal plaques called amyloid plaques, which are a buildup of protein fragments that are thought to be damaging to the brain cells. However, scientists are still unsure if this buildup actually cause the disease or is a result of the disease itself. This disease can also be a result of a genetic mutation, increasing individuals with the gene mutation risk as much as eight times higher than individuals

These plaques and tangles eventually kill the neuron all together and the person starts to experience more severe deficits in memory and cognition. Movement and other cognitive processes that are ingrained throughout life, tend to be the last abilities to change. A person with Alzheimer’s disease, in the context of short interactions may appear that they are more able than they actually are because they display abilities such as walking, using the restroom, or carrying on short conversations. Other biological considerations are the ties to genetics, especially with early onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis, as well as people with Down syndrome that live into middle age. There is some focus on researching chromosome 21, however, ties to Alzheimer’s have also been indicated in chromosomes 1 and 14.

Alzheimer's is an adult onset disease that is caused by a genetic mutation in chromosomes 21, 14, and 1. Alzheimer’s is a complex series of brain changes that occur over a long period of time. It is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions, this disease is the most common form of dementia; it is irreversible and scientist have not found a cure for it.

Alzheimer’s disease effects hundreds of thousands of older adults. Research has been done and a cure is being searched for, but so far there is no way to cure it. There are treatments for Alzheimer’s that may help, but the cure is slow coming and few things have been learned about it. Older persons who experience the disease can experience a wide array of effects such as confusion, depression, violent tendencies, and many other things of that nature. There are different stages of the mental sickness, from minor, to severe. Different research states that the more schooling you have the, the less likely you are to develop Alzheimer’s, it may also be genetic and passed down through generations.

Many believe that if an individual develops Alzheimer’s at an early age, it is related to genetics. Yet, still others believe that Alzheimer’s that develops at a later age, is related to genetics as well. A mutation on chromosome 19 has been linked with a later onset of Alzheimer’s disease, but not everyone that has the mutation develops the disease (5). Therefore, the parallel

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of Dementia. There is said to be 50% to 80% of Dementia cases. Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Neurodegenerative is “degenerative nerve diseases affect many of your body's activities, such as balance, movement, talking, breathing, and heart function. Many of these diseases are genetic. Sometimes the cause is a medical condition such as alcoholism, a tumor, or a stroke. Other causes may include toxins, chemicals, and viruses. Sometimes the cause is not known.” (Medline Plus, n.d.) Neurodegenerative disease is the abnormalities or death of neurons. “In the early-stage of AD, cognition and the ability to acquire new memories are impaired. In the later stages, symptoms include