Download Alzheimer`s- Hijab

HIJAB JAVED (14-10218)
BIOT 412-DISEASE FOR PROJECT
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
ALTERNATIVE NAME: Senile dementia - Alzheimer's type (SDAT)
DESCRIPTION: Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects
memory, thinking, and behavior.
PEOPLE LIKELY TO HAVE AD:

Older (above 60 yrs) although developing AD is not a part of aging process

Have parents/ siblings with AD

Carry AD-linked genes like APOW epsilon4 allele

Being female, having prolonged high blood pressure & a history of head trauma are
factors thought to risk AD but this isn’t well-proven.

Al, Hg, Pb exposure for prolonged periods
TYPES OF AD:
1. Early onset AD: less prevalent/ people under 60 years of age tend to develop/ worsens
rapidly/ expected to run in families
2. Late onset AD: most commonly prevalent/ people of 60 years+ develop/ role of genes is
ambiguous
3. Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (FAD), which is found in families where AD follows a
certain inheritance pattern
4. Sporadic (seemingly random) AD, where no obvious inheritance pattern is seen.
Because of differences in age at onset, AD is further described as either “Early-Onset”
(younger than 65 years old) or “Late-onset”(64 years and older)
SYMPTOMS OF EARLY-STAGE AD
Difficulty performing tasks that take some thought such as learning new information or
routines, Getting lost on familiar routes
Language problems, such as trouble finding the name of familiar objects, Losing interest
in things previously enjoyed, flat mood, Misplacing items, Personality changes and loss
of social skills
SYMPTOMS OF ADVANCE STAGE AD
Change in sleep patterns, often waking up at night, Delusions, depression, agitation
Difficulty doing basic tasks, such as preparing meals, choosing proper clothing, and
driving, reading or writing, Forgetting details about current events
HIJAB JAVED (14-10218)
BIOT 412-DISEASE FOR PROJECT
Hallucinations, arguments, striking out, and violent behavior, Poor judgment and loss of
ability to recognize danger, Using the wrong word, mispronouncing words, speaking in
confusing sentences, Withdrawing from social contact
DIAGNOSTICS/ TESTS
Health care providers initially go for these exams/ tests:
 Complete physical exam, including neurological exam/ Asking questions about your
medical history and symptoms/ A mental status examination/ Tests done to rule out other
causes of dementia, anemia, brain tumor, chronic infection, depression, stroke etc
 Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain may be
done to look for other causes of dementia, such as a brain tumor or stroke. In later stages,
an MRI may show a decrease in the size of different areas of the brain.
 The confirm test of whether someone had AD is to examine specimen from their brain
tissue after death. Features like Neurofibrillary tangles, Neuritic plaques and Senile
plaques indicate AD.
ALZ TREATMENT
AD is an irreversible disease with no cure. However, treatment strategy would have the objective
to:
Slow the progression of the disease, Manage symptoms, such as behavior problems,
confusion, and sleep problems
Change your home environment so you can better perform daily activities, Support
family members and other caregivers
DRUG TREATMENT
 Donepezil (Aricept), Rivastigmine (Exelon), and Galantamine- Side effects include
stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and fatigue. Memantine- side effects
include agitation or anxiety. Haloperidol, Risperidone, and Quetiapine (control
aggressive and dangerous behaviour). Some medicines including painkillers, cimetidine,
central nervous system depressants, antihistamines, sleeping pills etc can worsen the
situation.
AD PROGNOSIS
How quickly AD gets worse is different for each person. If AD develops quickly, it is more
likely to worsen quickly. Patients with AD often die earlier than normal, although a patient may
live anywhere from 3 - 20 years after diagnosis. The final phase of the disease may last from a
few months to several years. During that time, the patient becomes totally disabled. Death
usually occurs from an infection or organ failure.
BRAIN MAPPING
HIJAB JAVED (14-10218)
BIOT 412-DISEASE FOR PROJECT
Latest ongoing research in Neuromics and the current US project granted by Obama i.e. ‘brain
mapping’ may help find treatments to some of the most common neurological and memory
disorders. Neuron patterns are traced when rats do simple tasks that will make us learn how
different parts of brain communicate and what goes wrong in brain dynamics resulting in
memory
loss
and
eventually
AD.
"Our ability to look at a living brain of an individual that has a disease, or has had a
traumatic brain injury, has allowed us to target exactly what has happened and suggest
various therapies," Dr. Arthur Toga, Director of the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging said.
For the first time, Dr. Toga's team has mapped the progression of Alzheimer's in the brain.
Researchers say they'd eventually like a large library of brain maps that will help them compare
brains of people who suffer from similar diseases. This library will help doctors across the world
give personalized treatment to each patient.
FACTORS CAUSING ALZHEIMER’S
Scientists don’t yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease, but it has become
increasingly clear that it develops because of a complex series of events that take place in the
brain over a long period of time
 GENETIC: Many studies have linked the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene to late-onset
Alzheimer’s. This gene has several forms. One of them, APOE ε4, seems to increase a
person’s risk of getting the disease. However, carrying the APOE ε4 form of the gene
does not necessarily mean that a person will develop Alzheimer’s disease, and people
carrying no APOE ε4 can also develop the disease.
 ENVIRONMENTAL: There is a great deal of interest, for example, in associations
between cognitive decline and vascular and metabolic conditions such as heart disease,
stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Further, a nutritious diet, physical
activity, social engagement, and mentally stimulating pursuits can all help people reduce
the cognitive decline.
ONGOING RESEARCH AREAS
Conducting studies to learn more about plaques, tangles, and other features of Alzheimer’s
disease/ visualize beta-amyloid associated with plaques by imaging the brains of living
individuals/ finding out why it largely strikes older adults/ study on age-related changes and their
link ton AD like atrophy (shrinking) of certain parts of the brain, inflammation, the production of
unstable molecules called free radicals, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
IMPORTANCE IN PAKISTAN
The National Organization “Alzheimer’s Pakistan”, (run by volunteers from all members of
society) of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia related disorders. The main goal of this NonGovernment Organization is to work for the welfare of people who are suffering from dementia
and their care givers.