Posts tagged Alzheimer

With the development of modern technology, the moon and other exciting developments humans face the threat of disease, the processes of life and may in some cases fatal. One of the diseases that have a significant impact on People?? behavior is Alzheimer’s? disease (AD). Alzheimer S of the disease is degenerative brain disease in the elderly, of which there is no recovery. Slowly the disease attacks the brain cells in all regions of the brain and surrounding structures, so that an ill person loses the ability to govern the old emotions, to understand the failure to coordinate his movements and, finally, a person loses his memory and the ability of mental function (B. Heights, 2002).

AD is named after German physician Alois Alzheimer. Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in brain tissue from a woman who died of an unusual mental illness. He found abnormal clumps (amyloid plaques now) and tangled bundles of fibers (neurofibrillary tangles today). Today, these plaques and tangles in the brain are considered characteristic of AD. Many scientists have found brain changes in people with other AD. It is a loss of nerve cells in the brain areas that are critical for memory and other mental functions. There are also smaller chemicals in the brain that transmit complex messages back and forth between nerve cells. AD may disrupt normal thinking and memory of these messages between nerve cells (H. Simon) blocks.
Scientists are looking for specific biological factors (Peter Konrad and Ballenger 2000) have contributed to the AD. The various aspects of environmental and genetic causes AD to participate. However, the real cause of the disease is still unknown. The greatest known risk factor for late onset Alzheimer’s disease? S are age and family history of AD. Research around the world trying other factors that may cause AD found.

Ad is now the fourth leading cause of death among adults. Nearly four million Americans have it. The number doubles every five years, more than 65 years. At the age of eighty five years nearly half of Americans have AD. Some studies show that women are much greater risk of Alzheimer’s than men (most of these studies have been conducted on European populations and Asian American studies, but found no significant differences were affected). If there is a difference between the sexes, it is because of estrogen, which is the most important female?? S hormone that is responsible for protecting against memory loss and normal mental compared to normal age. If a woman gets older, lower estrogen levels after menopause occurs and may explain the increased risk of AD in older women than in men. On the other hand, some of the testosterone, which converts male hormones into estrogen and may protect the people. The people that family history of disease are higher than average risk for AD. The researchers found that the ApoE4 gene may be responsible for late and early onset cases. Some studies have shown that African-Americans and Hispanics more likely than white Americans, AD occurs less frequently among the Cree and Cherokee, and Asians than among the regular American. Genes can have different effects in different populations (Tanzi and Ann B. 2000).

High blood pressure and high cholesterol may be even more risky than ApoE4 in fact. At highest risk are also people who inherit a syndrome. Some other risk factors are: 1) low level of education and economic groups, 2) a small head, 3 depression), 4 head injuries).
Something very dangerous is that the brain is damaged in about AD for years, even before the onset of symptoms. The first symptoms may be so mild that people hardly notice their appearance. The first might be forgotten. can people with AD have problems with names of people they know or remember recent events or simple math problems to solve. As the disease progresses, people may face
â? mass losses ¢ unreasonable
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â? ¢ depression, apathy, irritability

Half of all patients who can count AD deal with psychotic problems, hallucinations, visions. It is a complex form of the disease, which is probably based on the genetic level. Many other symptoms are similar to Alzheimer’s disease? S symptoms. It is essential to correctly identify the disease, treatment success in the future of it. However, we did not test to diagnose AD would guarantee fully developed. So now is the exclusion of other diseases, diagnosis of the following questions about the status of a patient:
â? ¢ psychological tests show dementia?
â? ¢ Does the patient use problems with speech, walking, perception?
â? ¢ memory was worse?
â? ¢ If the patient is over 40?
â? ¢ behavior is changing every day?
â? ¢ The patient has a family history of Alzheimer’s disease?
â? ¢ Are there other symptoms such as weight loss, depression, hallucinations?
determine further steps in the decision include laboratory tests (EEG and tests to exclude other diseases) and psychological tests to detect the presence of dementia, are involved.

There is no guarantee that some forms of life to prevent AD, but studies show that particular lifestyle, can play very important role in the prevention of AD. It is essential to prevent heart disease. Calcium â?? channel blockers and other anti?? blood pressure can be used to protect the heart and brain is so. Statins, which can reduce the drugs commonly used to lower cholesterol also be used to reduce the risk of AD may be lower. Another method used to prevent, AD is the HRT. Because of the price difference between populations AD, studies on dietary factors are seeking protection. In China and Nigeria, where fat intake is much lower than in the U.S., the risk of AD at the age of sixty-five years is only 1% versus 5% in study of U. S. in the Netherlands have the relationship between cholesterol and dementia. Eating lots of dark fruit and vegetables may slow the deterioration of the brain. Blueberries are considered most useful. In each case, the dark colored fruits and vegetables are good for health. Other studies have shown that soy estrogens, the idea is to protect the memory. Some have reported that consumption of small amounts of alcohol, the brain can stop the aging effect. Not everyone agrees, however. Caffeine has a good effect on women in terms of mental functioning. Much research has shown that AD-oxidation during an impact the disease can have. Vitamin E may protect against mental decay. other health behaviors such as aerobics or jogging, stop the mental decline in importance. The more exercise the better. In other aspects, the role in the prevention of mental decline of learning and stress reduction.

Unfortunately, today we can only try to prevent AD and have no cure. However, there are drugs in the study was to ensure that the progression of AD is slow. The worst that improvements may leave some of these drugs is so small that the patient or his family would not even notice. The good thing is that these drugs may also help delay the need for the inclusion of a patient in a nursing home (Alzheimer’s disease? Association S). The only funds that are approved called selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. You are the cholinergic system, which is responsible for memory and learning, and is destroyed in the year to protect. We have the following:
â? donepezil ¢. Donepezil (Aricept) is taken once a day and has only limited benefits, but it helps slow the loss of function and reduce caregiver burden. He also works in patients with or without ApoE4. It may even be an advantage for patients who suffer moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.
â? Rivastigmine ¢. Rivastigmine (Exelon) targets two enzymes (the large, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase). It is taken twice a day. The agent may be particularly beneficial for patients with rapidly progressive disease. This drug has slowed or slightly improved health status, even in patients with advanced illness. (Rivastigmine may be considerably more side effects than donepezil, including nausea, vomiting and headache). As with all anticholinergics, the drug is not a cure.
â? ¢ galantamine (Reminyl). Galantamine protects not only the cholinergic system but also acts on nicotine receptors, which also reports in studies of Alzheimer’s disease it improves everyday life, will miss the behavior and functions mental, including among patients with advanced? Moderate Alzheimer’s disease and vascular with a mixture of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Some studies have suggested that the effects of galantamine continue for one year or longer and even strengthen over time.
â? Tacrine ¢. Tacrine (Cognex) was the first cholinergic protective drug. It must be taken four times a day, has only modest benefits and has no benefit for patients who carry the ApoE4 gene. At high doses it can also damage the liver. In general, newer cholinergic protective drugs that are not as great danger to the liver does not currently represent the Alzheimer’s disease (Castleman, Gallagher-Thompson and Naythons 2000 uses).

Half of the patients to show a slight improvement in the acuity of illness moderate. Recent studies, however, show little difference in efficiency between them. All these drugs have gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea. Nevertheless, these drugs still had some effect. Some researchers have found that some patients may not respond to a particular drug should be changed in this case, the drug and there is actually a chance that it works. There are also alternative treatments that are being studied today. One of them is Ginko biloba. It is a common plant that increases blood flow to the brain. Its extract EGb 761 can improve a bit, the memory of patients, mild to moderate. Gingko Biloba has minimal side effects. Turmeric also has features that can protect against AD. Turmeric is a spice, turmeric is one of its components, which may protect from AD. Studies have also found that melatonin, the natural hormone that has to do with sleep regulation, could break the beta-amyloid, and it is capable, by the blood of a passport? blood-brain barrier. Studies reported that melatonin improves sleep, and even in some cases slowed mental decline (H. Simon).
A number of other medical treatments are studied and promising in early trials and late. The research focuses on agents that prevent the development of beta-amyloid, can concentrate their toxic effect on nerve cells, or other mechanisms of disease. Among them are the following:
â? na ¢??? Methylation? Books? Aspartate (NMDA) blockers. NMDA blockers such as memantine (Ebixa), binding to glutamate, an amino acid that excites nerves and, beyond, is a powerful nerve? killer cells. Memantine has been shown that some very effective in improving symptoms and is subject to approval in Europe and the United States.
â? ¢ growth factors to stimulate nerve activity in the brain. Cerebrolysin (ECRE) is an example of these drugs and is very promising in clinical trials to improve mental function, and other symptoms, was arrested with a lasting effect even after the drug. Leteprinim potassium (Neotrofin) produce nerve activated genes?? growth factor in the brain. Early studies suggest that man can have positive effects on memory and behavior. may prevent insulin and insulin growth factor accumulation of beta-amyloid.
â? ¢ antioxidants. Indole? 3a? Propionic acid or IPA (OXIGON), is a natural substance that helps enzymes, may contribute to influence Alzheimer’s disease.
â? ¢ Huperzine alpha, another acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, improved mental function, behavior and mood in patients with Alzheimer’s in a Chinese study. Other research also suggests some benefits.
â? ¢ Piracetam is a nootropic retardants called nerve. We conducted a series of small studies, significant results. Further research is needed to identify all the benefits.
â? ¢ researchers investigating immunotherapy, vaccines, whose molecules for use in beta-amyloid as a target for the immune system of the body and antibodies, proteins that include CD40â category? CD40L, involved in amyloid deposits.
â? tetracyclines ¢. Antibiotics such as tetracycline known as tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline, have Antia? The anti-inflammatory drugs that are currently being studied in a number of chronic inflammatory diseases (eg, periodontitis). You can also activity against beta-amyloid in the brain (H. Simon).
The worst thing about Alzheimer’s disease? S is a disease that has not been fully investigated. None of the doctors can diagnose certain. And what is worse, none of this can not heal. The worst part is fatal in all cases of Alzheimer’s. With all treatments have been or are still under investigation, can only delay the need for nursing home (Terry, Katzman, Bick, Sisodia 1999).

The topic of Alzheimer’s disease? ‘s disease is crucial for me and should be for everyone. Mainly because no one is insured against AD and there is no way to escape some. Our modern medicine has developed through the centuries and now he is cured of many dangerous diseases, but there is simply no defense against Alzheimer’s disease? S. When scientists completely our era, it will help to understand the brain and its impact on People? S to investigate the behavior. With this knowledge, it would be possible to affect the brain and its functions. Unfortunately, all studies have been conducted around AD and the above condition can not simply on AD with a hundred percent certainty. All drugs that are not listed above, stop our era, they can hardly slow down. It is very unpleasant, that humanity has developed a strong chance, the brain, making progress, but stop not yet found a way of reducing the brain.