...1. Title: Aging cells offer new target for Alzheimer's therapy 2. Author: Jessica Hamzelou 3. Published: September 26, 2012 4. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21528843.200-ageing-cells-offer-new-target-for-alzheimers-therapy.html?full=true 5. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. It is normally diagnosed in people over the age of 65, but it can be diagnosed earlier than that (early-onset Alzheimer's). There are many stages of Alzheimer's. In the early stages, a patient simply forgets recent events. In more advanced stages, they can have mood swings, language difficulty, problems with bodily functions, confusion, and aggression. "On average, the life expectancy following diagnosis is approximately seven years" (Molsa PK, Martilla RJ, Rinne UK, 1986). The causes of Alzheimer's has long been unknown, and has accounted for the hundreds of unsuccessful treatments. Scientists recently discovered large numbers of senescent cells in Alzheimer's patients. Senescent cells are cells that lose the ability to divide after many cycles of division, which results in deterioration and death of the cell. Claudio Torres at Drexel University College did an experiment to show the damage of senescence. He exposed human astrocytes (star-shaped cells in the brain) to hydrogen peroxide, which mimicked the metabolic stress that occurs with aging. It showed that cells started displaying similarities to genes associated with senescence. "Torres's team then looked for senescent...
Words: 417 - Pages: 2
...function are commonly accompanied, and occasionally preceded, by deterioration in emotional control, social behavior, or motivation. Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia and possibly contributes to 60%-70% of cases. Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function. AD is substantially increased among people aged 65 years or more, with a progressive decline in memory, thinking, language and learning capacity. AD should be differentiated from normal age-related decline in cognitive function, which is more gradual and associated with less disability. Disease often starts with mild symptoms and ends with severe brain damage. People with dementia lose their abilities at different rates. Whether these changes may be a cause or consequence of AD remains to be fully understood, but inflammation within the brain, including increased reactivity of the resident microglia towards amyloid deposits, has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of AD. The more individuals advance in age the higher is the risk they will develop Alzheimer disease. Most patients develop AD after the age of 65 years old. The risk of developing AD reaches 50% for individuals beyond age 85. Because more and more people live longer lives this disease is becoming a serious concern. The age-specific incidence rates for Alzheimer disease demonstrate a doubling of incidence for about every six years of added life, which indicates an exponential increasing...
Words: 967 - Pages: 4
...Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Alzheimer's affects people younger than age 65. Up to 5 percent of the more than 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s have younger-onset. Many people with early onset are in their 40s and 50s. Defined by the Mayo Clinic - Alzheimer's is a irreversible disease that causes the brain cells to degenerate and die causing a steady decline in memory and other important mental functions. It's the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and behavioral abilities — these brain disorders result in the loss of intellectual and social skills and interfere with day-to-day life. Alzheimer's disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms included memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior. After she died, he examined her brain and found many abnormal clumps. Alzheimer’s disease affects approximately 5.3 million people and is ranked 6th for cause of death in America. A question you may ask is can someone die from Alzheimer’s I would have to say yes. Now you are wondering how can one die from memory loss…well typical complications of Alzheimer's are heart attacks, thromboembolisms (blood clots), strokes, kidney failure, and lung infections due to aspiration of food. Multi-organ failure is usually the cause of...
Words: 857 - Pages: 4
...Can Alzheimer be reversed? Many experts suggest that 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer disease (“About Alzheimer Disease: Alzheimer Basic”). I currently take care of my grandmother and she was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease about three almost four years ago. I would have paid anything for her not have to suffer through this disease. Alzheimer Disease (also known as “AD”) is a disease that is growing within our population and has not found a cure. If they do not find a cure Alzheimer’s will have a risk to increases with age, and the U.S. population is aging. The number of people with Alzheimer’s doubles for every 5-year interval beyond age sixty five (4). Studies show, by 2050 over 13 million will have the Alzheimer disease (“Alzheimer's Facts and Figures”). Alzheimer is a disease that forms in your brain. Abnormal deposits of proteins form amyloid plaques and that tangles throughout the brain, and once-healthy neurons begin to work less efficiently.( “About Alzheimer Disease: Alzheimer Basic”) For a example it is the sign at a railroad crossing that the gates are no longer going back up. Alzheimer is one of the most common forms of dementia. (“About Alzheimer Disease: Alzheimer Basic”) Dementia has many causes besides loss of memory. It can have a effect on memory, language, attention and problem solving. Dementia can also have affect on their attitude and behavioral, where they might yell or hit you. Dementia can lead a person living completely dependent on someone...
Words: 776 - Pages: 4
...and older and is classified as sporadic AD. The prevalence of AD varies among many different factors, including age, co-morbidities, genetics, and education level. There is no way to definitively diagnose AD without performing an autopsy. There is no cure for AD, however promising research and development for early detection and treatment is underway. Abstract Alzheimer’s disease was discovered in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer, a German neurologist and psychiatrist2. The disease was initially observed in a 51-year-old woman named Auguste D. Her family brought her to Dr. Alzheimer in 1901 after noticing changes in her personality and behavior. The family reported problems with memory, difficulty speaking, and impaired comprehension. Dr. Alzheimer later described Auguste as having an aggressive form of dementia, manifesting in memory, language and behavioral deficits3. Dr. Alzheimer noted many abnormal symptoms, including difficulty with speech, agitation, and confusion4. He followed her care for five years, until her death in 1906. Following her death, Dr. Alzheimer performed an autopsy, during which he found dramatic shrinkage of the cerebral cortex, fatty deposits in blood vessels, and atrophied brain cells2. He discovered neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques, Bethune 3 Alzheimer’s Disease vs....
Words: 4642 - Pages: 19
...Alzheimer’s Disease Susan Edmonson Daymar College Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimers Disease is a progressive, deteriorating disease that attacks the brain causing diminished memory, thinking and behavior. Therefore it is imperative to know how Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed, risks and the different stages of the illness. It is an illness that is evident in a gradual decline in brain function that gets worse with time. It can affect a person’s ability to find words, finish thoughts or follow instructions. Learning about Alzheimer's disease and realizing that it is much more than memory loss can benefit the families of those with the illness. This disease is progressive and eventually leads to death. While there is no cure, it can be treated. Alzheimer’s is not a classic part of aging (What is Alzheimers, 2015). It can earnestly affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. Those affected by Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after the symptoms are evident. One can survive from four to twenty years, dependent on the age of the person and their health situations (What is Alzheimers, 2015). “In 2013, as many as 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease”(Center for Disease Control, 2015 ). There are quite a few risk factors that can increase one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (Cummings,2008). “Aging is the most powerful risk”(Cummings, 2008). Having a family history of dementia can also be a risk factor, even though it is uncommon...
Words: 1811 - Pages: 8
..."Where has Yesterday Gone" Memory loss, like old age is a condition which mankind has always reluctantly recognized and always - with resignation. Memory loses are sometimes trivial and meaningless and go unrecognized. However, when these loses are so great that a person does not know who or where they are the concerns are quite grave. Although it is realize that Alzheimer's disease destroys the brain memory function, many do not realize precisely how the memory is destroyed once one is aware of the process, it becomes faster to work forward to alleviate the destruction. "Without memory there is no knowledge to recreate or reproduce past perceptions, emotions, thoughts and actions that are so vital to live a full and functioning life. Memory is the key that unlocks doors that keep us functioning, not only mentally but physically (Corrick 32)." "Memory loss is not a sign of decay (Freedman 10)." As we get older, there is some mild impairment in our recollection of recent events, such as forgetting why one went into a room or misplacing a person's eye glasses, which even young are guilty of doing. As reported by Larry Squire, "forgetting is quite normal and usually develops in the third decade of life, and by one estimate 85 percent of the healthy elderly - those over 65--suffer some memory impairment (59)." According to Dr. Seligmann, "forgetting is the process through which information in memory becomes inaccessible, either because it is stored but is not at that time retrievable...
Words: 2725 - Pages: 11
...Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice Student name Institution Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice A. Investigated Disease Process: The paper investigates the processes of Alzheimer’s and pharmacological implication. A1. Pathophysiology: The theory based on monoamine-deficiency determines that the recognizable pathophysiological source of Alzheimer’s Disease is the occurrence of dementia and dementia like symptoms (Unützer, & Park, 2012). Donepezil is applicable in the pathophysiology and is commendable by the therapeutic efficacy of its control. There are various conventional discussions based on the categorization and basis of dementia. The concept made by Emil Kraepelin'sdetermines that is a formulation of a Sigmund and disease. On the other hand, Freud perceives Alzheimer’s disease is an expression of internalized loss and weakness (Unützer, & Park, 2012). Alzheimer’s disease may not be categorized as a homogeneous disease, but it is a sophisticated phenomenon that has various subtypes and at least one etiology. It also has various predispositions in symptomatology that range from mild to severe symptoms. A2. Standard of Practice: The American Psychiatric Association presents the best practices to be followed while addressing Alzheimer’s disease disorder. The practices aim to assist healthcare providers in making informed decisions by providing...
Words: 1284 - Pages: 6
...adults” (Hahn, Payne, and Lucas 2011), this disease is known as Alzheimer’s disease. The first topic that will be discussed will be symptoms and diagnosing the disease. Secondly how it progresses and the stages associated with it, along with the two main types of Alzheimer’s disease. The last topic will be the possible causes, risk factors and medications available to the sufferer. “Alzheimer’s disease dementia is a progressive degenerative brain disease and has no known cure. It is the most common form of dementia and eventually leads to death. Alzheimer’s disease significantly impacts the patient’s ability to function cognitively, which is the most apparent symptom of the disease.“ (http://www.alzheimersdisease.com/info/what/what-is-alzheimers-disease.jsp?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=+causes%2Bof%2B+alzheimer's%2B%2B%2B&utm_campaign=Unbranded%2BSigns%2Band%2BSymptoms%2B5/11&gclid=CIrGwvG9l6wCFYpb7AodaSjuUA). There are several symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease listed on the website www.alzheimersdisease.com[->0] including misplacing things. Objects are not just being misplaced but being placed in areas they should not be an example of this is instead of placing a purse on the counter when a person walks into the house they may place it in the freezer or refrigerator. Everyone may lose something for a short amount of time but when the object is placed somewhere completely out of the ordinary there may be reason for concern. Another symptom mentioned in the...
Words: 1654 - Pages: 7
...My example is of my grandmother. She was 4’11” and a bright 5th and 6th grade math teacher. She didn’t have a high school to attend but she did get her teaching certificate attending EKU. She was one of 17 siblings. 13 grew to adulthood and all lived to 94-99 to one is still alive! As my grandfather became ill with cardiomyopathy at age 85, he would tell us privately that “ma” is getting mixed up. When he passed away, my aunt moved into care for “ma”. My aunt was financially challenged and needed her mom’s shelter and Ma needed a caregiver. Ma became increasingly confused and dangerous to herself. She would frequently leave the house looking for my deceased grandfather. She once brushed her teeth with dish soap and began speaking while bubbles floated about—which would have been hilarious if it weren’t so sad. She would hide food away for weeks and to her it would be ok to eat. The problems it caused were significant for my aunt. My grandmother gradually became very mean and impatient. She no longer recognized my aunt and would go on long tirades, confiding in my aunt about how awful that daughter of hers was because she never came to visit or do anything for her. My aunt would say,” I’m your daughter.” And Ma would say, “No, you are not!” Ma eventually fell and broke her hip. During the hospital stay she screamed the verses to Amazing Grace in a manic fashion without stopping for a break to eat or speak or barely catch her breath much to the dismay of her roommate...
Words: 608 - Pages: 3
...collaborative group of studies with researchers at Utah State University, Duke University Medical Center and The John Hopkins University. This study is conducted in Cache County, Utah and is designed to examine genetic and environmental factors associated with risk for Alzheimer's disease. This study has been going for longer than 16 years and has enrolled over 5000 residents of the county. The reason the study is conducted here is because Cache County elderly have longer life expectancy than other areas of the United States, make it a prime location for the study. The project investigated three important assumptions which are first, certain genes may influence Alzheimer dementia in old age, second, Alzheimer's has a maximum occurrence near 80 years of age and then decreases and third, specific environmental factors may reduce Alzheimer dementia before the age of 85. (2) I find...
Words: 668 - Pages: 3
...Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common diseases for people over the age of 65. It can affect any age, any gender, any background, or socioeconomic status. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 5.4 million Americans who live with this disease and the number for people over the age of 65 will rise to 7.7 million in the 2030. A new medicine that researchers are studying is ANAVEX 2-73, that may treat Alzheimer’s through disease modification versus only treating the symptoms. In this paper I will discuss other methods scientists are researching for the diagnosing and treatment of Alzheimer’s. According to medical news today, Anavex Life Sciences Corporation has been testing a new neuroprotective, anti-amnesic, anti-depressive and anti-convulsive compounds. ANAVEX 2-73 and ANAVEX 1-41 are being studied for their anti-amnesic and neuroprotective effects, the company claims that these compounds could be compared to donepezil, which is the leading Alzheimer’s disease medication. Researchers are excited about the potential of this possible new Alzheimer’s medication. A clinical trial has been started in which volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55. The volunteers will be given one dose of oral ANAVEX 2-73 to determine the maximum tolerated single dose, safety, and pharmacokinetics with the objective is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of this potential new Alzheimer’s medication. The existing anti-seizure drug, levetiracetam, which improves memory...
Words: 836 - Pages: 4
...Neural correlates of interspecies perspective taking in the post-mortem Atlantic Salmon: An argument for multiple comparisons correction Craig M. Bennett1, Abigail A. Baird2, Michael B. Miller1, and George L. Wolford3 1 3 Psychology Department, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA; 2 Department of Psychology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY; Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH INTRODUCTION With the extreme dimensionality of functional neuroimaging data comes extreme risk for false positives. Across the 130,000 voxels in a typical fMRI volume the probability of a false positive is almost certain. Correction for multiple comparisons should be completed with these datasets, but is often ignored by investigators. To illustrate the magnitude of the problem we carried out a real experiment that demonstrates the danger of not correcting for chance properly. GLM RESULTS METHODS Subject. One mature Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) participated in the fMRI study. The salmon was approximately 18 inches long, weighed 3.8 lbs, and was not alive at the time of scanning. Task. The task administered to the salmon involved completing an open-ended mentalizing task. The salmon was shown a series of photographs depicting human individuals in social situations with a specified emotional valence. The salmon was asked to determine what emotion the individual in the photo must have been experiencing. Design. Stimuli were presented...
Words: 901 - Pages: 4
...Where did the name, Alzheimer's come from Sometimes called Alzheimer disease or Alzheimer's the origin of the term dates back to 1906 when Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German physician presented a case history before a medical meeting about a 51-year-old female who suffered from a rare brain disorder. What is Alzheimer's Wikipedia says that Alzheimer's accounts for 60% to 70% of cases of dementia. It is a Neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and gets worse over time. The disease and its cause is poorly understood with professionals hypothesizing such factors as genetics, head injuries, depression, hypertension, plaques and tangles in the brain and several other possible causes that run the gambit. The diagnosis processes include such things as medical imaging and blood tests....
Words: 266 - Pages: 2
...Training Staff for People with Dementia in Care Homes Riverside School of Health Careers Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia that gradually gets worse overt time. It begins as dementia which affects memory impairment, decision-making, judgment, personality, language and behavior. There are concerns dealing with inconsistencies and the lack of focus on the care of patients with AD. Anyone caring for an AD patient should be trained on the disease itself as well as the impact of the person living with this disease and taught how to appropriately deal with the progression of this disease. Approximately fifty percent of people over 85 years of age have dementia. Most nurses recognize the challenges of treating a patient with AD and should be trained to deal with the impact on the environment; keeping it relaxing, homey and familiar as it has a great impact on the patients well being. Secondly; to keep barriers in place makes the patient feel both dehumanized and disempowered making it impossible for the nurse to provide true person centered care. Thirdly; not just medicating the behavior, but using psychosocial interventions which have a positive impact on the behavior problems. Rather than medicating; staff/caregivers can also use a more basic technique such as doll therapy, pet therapy, aromatherapy which can be less alarming to patients with AD. Staff/caregivers must be taught how to communicate as the disease continues to progress. Alzheimer’s...
Words: 662 - Pages: 3
