Alzheimer's Brain Disorder - Research Paper Example

?Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer’s disease Cholinesterase inhibitors were first utilized in the management of Alzheimer’s disease in the year 1997. The first line of drugs that were utilized for this purpose includes rivastigmine, galantamine and donepezil. These drugs were first utilized for the mild stage of Alzheimer’s. The drugs have different properties, however, their pharmacokinetics are similar in the sense that they block the lysis of acetylcholine by inhibiting the acetyl cholinesterase. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter which is essential in memory and neurosynaptic interactions. Therefore by inhibiting this breakdown, these drugs are able to alter the clinical presentations of Alzheimer’s disease. The main objective of this experiment is to analyze the impacts rivastigmine, donepezil and galantamine have on individuals with either moderate, mild or severe types of Alzheimer’s. The experiment will be randomized and based on the observation of 20 individuals with 10 placebo patients out of this group who will also be selected randomly. The trial will be carried out for a period of at least 5 months and at the end of this treatment the results will be compared between the placebo patients and those that received the recommended dosage of a cholinesterase inhibiting drug. Introduction Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that is one of the most common forms of dementia today. The disease varies in its pathogenesis in different patients; however, it possesses some constant traits. These symptoms are often assumed to be age related and include memory loss. The disease often presents itself in 4 stages which include pre dementia, early, moderate and advanced. The disease currently has no cure; however, there are some therapeutic approaches that have been taken in managing the diseases and preserving an individual’s cognitive functions for longer periods. The experiment is aimed at analyzing the benefits of cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s patients. Hypothesis: Cholinesterase inhibiting drugs such as rivastigmine, donepezil and galantamine reduce the rate of cognitive impairment in patients suffering from the mild form of Alzheimer’s disease. Opinions and Ideas concerning the therapeutic management approaches for Alzheimer’s disease There have been several researches and confirmations that have been carried out to assess cholinesterase inhibiting drugs and they are now considered as approved drugs by the American Food and Drug association (Brusco, 2010). Rivastigmine, donepezil and galantamine are generally preferred over other drugs such as Taccrine, which was one of the first drugs to gain FDA approval, however, has more pronounced hepatic effects hence its use has been minimized. The decision on which drug to utilize between the three drugs is mainly dependent on the individual, his or her tolerability and the cost of the drugs (Brusco, 2010). With the increasing amount of research on cholinesterase inhibiting drugs, there have been several developments and improvement on their usage in order for them to meet the clinical needs of AD patients. As mentioned above Tacrine was one of the first drugs to be approved; however, it is rarely used due to its associated complications. TheRivastigmine and donepezil have fewer side effects due to the fact that they possess better selectivity for acetylcholinesterase inhibition (Brusco, 2010). Doctors, caregivers and patients have emphasized on the necessity to create treatment plans which are long lasting in their effect and require less frequent intake. This is one of the reasons why the drugs used now have a longer half life than the previous ones. In addition, new therapeutic drug intervention has shown better tolerance among patients. Further research should be carried out to identify the etiology of the improved tolerance to the new drugs and if any adverse effects are associated with the improved mechanism of action. Some researchers have attributed this positive trait to the improved selectivity in acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition. The use of AChe inhibitors has also been found to be very expensive. In the UK alone costs between the period of 2009 and 2010 were estimated to be approximately $15 billion dollars. Therefore,, this raises the need to create a more affordable mode of treatment as the majority of people around the world are unable to afford these drugs and often seek medical intervention when it is too late. As mentioned above, there is extensive research being carried out on drugs that can be utilized in treating Alzheimer’s as there is no current cure. Many doctors have noted that the majority of anomalies in AD exist in the cholinergic system. In earlier studies, doctors notice an approximately 80% loss of cholineacetyltransferase in both the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Photon emission tomography was also carried out to analyze the function of acetyl cholinesterase which was found to have reduced activity and there was also a decrease in the number of neurons located in the basalis nucleus. Therefore, this raised suggestions that usage of anticholinestrase drugs in healthy individuals may lead to the several defects such as confusion and cognitive impairment. Stress relief for individuals caring for Alzheimer’s patients Caregivers for Alzheimer’s disease patients often experience a tremendous amount of stress due to the amount of work involved and the progressive deterioration in patient’s health despite treatment. These individuals may be assisted in coping with this situation by joining support groups and communicating with other caregivers for AD patients. Symptoms that are often experienced by these caregivers include anger, denial, depression and anxiety. These can also be reduced by a psychologist who may help them in coping with the situation. Other symptoms include exhaustion and sleeplessness which can be alleviated by the assistance of agencies. Caregivers should not be afraid of asking for help and should avoid overworking themselves as this may lead to several other side effects. Examples of resources that are available for assisting AD caregivers include in home assistance, adult day programs and visiting nurses. They should also use relaxation techniques such as meditation, visualization, breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation. Summary of the experiment and its purpose The experiment is necessary as it enables us to prolong the life expectancy of Alzheimer’s disease patients. It also helps confirm the usefulness of acetycholinesterase inhibition and is also a step towards better medical treatment for these patients. The experiment can illustrate the extent of benefit of different drugs and compare then and derive upon a more effective and affordable treatment plan. References Brusco, L. I. (2010). Cognitive Decline and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. InNeuropsychiatric Disorders (pp. 213-226). Springer Japan Read More