Several Types of Alzheimer's Disease - Essay Example

Alzheimer`s disease Anna Fihar CONTENT Alzheimer`s disease INTRODUCTION 2 SCIENTIFIC OF THE DISEASE 3 SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION OF HOW IT IS DIAGNOSED 5 DESCRIPTION OF THERAPY/ TREATMENT/ PREVENTION 6 CURRENT ISSUES RELATING TO THE DISEASE 7 CONCLUSION 7 REFERENCES: 7 INTRODUCTION 3 SCIENTIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASE 3 SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION OF HOW IT IS DIAGNOSED 5 DESCRIPTION OF THERAPY/ TREATMENT/ PREVENTION 6 CURRENT ISSUES RELATING TO THE DISEASE 7 CONCLUSION 7 REFERENCES: 8 INTRODUCTION Alzheimer`s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that characterized by the damage of neurons and further loss of normal functioning of the brain. This is incurable disease that mainly affects older people at age over 65 years. Patients with Alzheimer`s disease have serious problems with the memory, mood, their ability to communicate and do daily activities. This disease usually progresses with time and can lead to death. Nowadays, treatment of Alzheimer`s disease is the most costly in the developed countries. German neuropathologist and psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer first detected and described this disease in 1907 in Auguste Deter, a middle aged woman who was diagnosed with the dementia and some disorders in her brain function. Untill 1970s this disease defined as a rare condition that affect old people, but Robert Katzman proved that Alzheimer`s disease is not a normal part of aging and it is the same condition as senile dementia. The statistic shows that Alzheimer`s disease affected approximately 26.6 million of people in 2006. Clinical trials predict that prevalence of the Alzheimer`s will be 1 out of 85 people by 2050 worldwide. (Web MD, 2014) SCIENTIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASE There are several types of Alzheimer`s disease depending on the severity. They include mild and moderate Alzheimer`s disease. Mild Alzheimer`s is an early stage of this disease that characterized with temporary memory loss. Patients at this stage usually have problems with complicated tasks, forget where they put their things, get lost, cannot find words to explain their thoughts and have changeable mood. People can normally survive with this type of Alzheimer`s but they required appropriate treatment to reduce possible symptoms. (Förstl H, 1999) Neuropsychological testing can detect this type of Alzheimer`s disease because the symptoms can be confusing with aging. Moderate Alzheimer`s is the most complicated and longest stage of the disease. It is progressive and can leads to overall memory lost. Patients with this type of Alzheimer`s usually do not remember their biography, family, friends and have problems with thinking and language. In this stage patient`s cannot normally live without help of the caregivers and treatment. It can last for years and finally lead to death. People with Alzheimer`s disease can live approximately 7 years after diagnosis. Only in 3% of all Alzheimer`s cases patients lived for 14 years after diagnosis. (Wenk GL,2003) At the cellular level Alzheimer`s disease mainly affect neurons in the cerebral cortex. Neurons lose their ability to transmit the signal through synapses. This provokes damage and dysfunction in the parietal lope that is responsible for controlling of the sensory information and temporal lobe that regulate delay of the visual memories, comprehending language, store of memories. Damages also detected in the nuclei of the brainstem. Alzheimer`s mainly characterized by the formation of the amyloid plaques that are fibrous proteins and neurofibrillary tangles that are hyperphosphorylated proteins and are initial markers of Alzheimer`s disease. These protein aggregates formed in the brain and can be easily detected in a microscope. Biochemists defined Alzheimer`s disease as a protein misfolding because disorders in normal beta amiloid proteins folding in the brain tissue cause formation of the plaques. Normally, in the membrane of the healthy neurons there is an Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) that controls processes of the neurons growth, functions and repair after injuries. In patients with Alzheimer`s APP divided into smaller units and gives rise to plaques formation. Mechanism of Alzheimer`s disease is not fully understood. (P. Tiraboschi., 2004) Figure 1 Amyloid Plaques & Neurofibrillary Tangles Bright Focus foundation.(2006). SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION OF HOW IT IS DIAGNOSED Several clinical trials showed that Alzheimer`s disease can be provoked by lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors. Genetics does not play crucial role in the development of the Alzheimer`s. Only in 5% of all cases Alzheimer`s was provoked by genetic changes. Primary diagnostic of the Alzheimer`s include studying of patient`s behaviours and medical history. Also, there are several tests that can help to determine Alzheimer`s. They include physical and neurological exam that involves testing of reflexes, sense of hearing and sight, balance, coordination, muscles strength and tone. Blood test can help to distinguish the other reasons of memory loss such as thyroid disorders or vitamin deficiency. Mental status test allows the doctor to check patient`s memory and thinking functions. Neurophysiological test is a longest analysis of the memory and thinking. Brain imaging allowed doctors to see the changes in the brain. Brain imaging procedures include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). During this procedure detailed image of the brain can be made using magnetic field and radio waves. Computerized Tomography (CT) uses X-rays to produce cross-sectional image of the brain. It helps to exclude brain tumors and head injuries. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is the other brain imaging method. During this procedure patients receive injection of radioactive tracer that can be transmitted into the brain by overhead scanner. This technique allows to detect the amount of the tangles and plaques in the brain and distinguish normal functioning regions. (Web MD, 2014) DESCRIPTION OF THERAPY/ TREATMENT/ PREVENTION Currently Alzheimer`s disease is not curable. There are several possible treatments that may help to reduce the symptoms of memory and thinking disorders. There are two drugs that are used as a treatment for cognitive symptoms. Cholinesterase inhibitors increase the amount of cell - to –cell communication that damaged or weakened during Alzheimer`s. Patients that take these drugs usually have improvements of their symptoms. Cholinesterase inhibitors can be prescribed in the form of donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine. Possible adverse effects after these drugs may be nausea, diarrhea and sleep disorders. (Raschetti R.,2007) Memantine is other type drug that also improve neurons communication and prevent development of moderate Alzheimer`s. Therapy can help to control Alzheimer`s. It includes creation of supportive and safe environment for patients. Usually patients with Alzheimer`s required caregivers that can make their every day routine easier and decrease the amount of the memory- demanding tasks. Also, patients required daily exercises as it can improve their mood and sleep and good nutrition as usually they forget about food. There are no any clear preventable procedures that can help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer`s. Recent studies showed that it may be possible to avert Alzheimer`s through prevention of the heart disease. Also, such factors as diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and obesity can be crucial in the development of the Alzheimer`s. (Mayo Clinic,2014) CURRENT ISSUES RELATING TO THE DISEASE As in 2014, approximately 1,500 clinical trials were done to investigate all possible treatments for Alzheimer`s disease. Scientist proposed mental stimulation, balanced diet and exercises as the way to decrease cognitive disorders in healthy old people. Nowadays scientist actively investigate other possible diagnostic procedures that can help to detect Alzheimer`s at early stages before it provokes symptoms. Also, several researches are conducts to measure main proteins in blood and spinal fluid associated with Alzheimer`s. . (Mayo Clinic,2014) CONCLUSION Therefore, Alzheimer`s disease is a disorder in the brain functioning and form of dementia. It is incurable disease. Several drugs are available that can decrease the cognitive symptoms. Alzheimer`s is a progressive disease that can lead to death. The mechanism of the disease is not fully understood, but scientist approved that Alzheimer`s cause formation of plaques and tangles in the brain that impair normal work of the neurons and synapses. Diagnostic of the Alzheimer`s include brain imaging and neurological exams. Hence, treatment and diagnostic of Alzheimer`s disease required further investigation. REFERENCES: 1. Bright Focus foundation.(2006). Amyloid Plaques & Neurofibrillary Tangles. Bright Focus foundation Online. Retrieved from http://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/about/understanding/plaques-and-tangles.html 2. Mayo Clinic.(2014). Alzheimer`s disease. Mayo Clinic Online. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20023871 3. P. Tiraboschi. (2004).The importance of neuritic plaques and tangles to the development and evolution of AD. Neurology Online. Retrieved from http://www.neurology.org/content/62/11/1984 4. Wenk GL.(2003). Neuropathologic changes in Alzheimers disease. National center for biotechnology information online. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12934968?dopt=Abstract 5. Förstl H.(1999). Clinical features of Alzheimers disease. National center for biotechnology information online. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10653284?dopt=Abstract 6. Web MD.(2014). Alzheimer`s disease. Web MD Online. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/alzheimers-disease-stages 7. Raschetti R.(2007). Cholinesterase inhibitors in mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review of randomised trials. National center for biotechnology information online. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18044984?dopt=Abstract Read More