Hewan Gunjo Med. 133 Research Journal #3 This article discusses Alzheimer’s disease, and the authors write about research on the effectiveness of Icariin (ICA), a type of flavonoid, in treating the disease. Sheng et al. (2017) write that Alzheimer’s is a disease marked by “gradual memory loss and deterioration of higher cognitive function” (p. 1). It is the main cause of dementia in people around the world. The flavonoid known as Icariin (ICA), which is found in the Chinese herb, “Epimedium brevicornum,” is known to have medicinal properties, and these researchers tested to see if the compound could reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s in lab rats. A study was conducted in which the brains of 60 rats were initially injected with amyloid beta compound to simulate the effects of the Alzheimer’s disease (2017, p. 2). Patients with Alzheimer’s develop these plaques in their brains, so the injection is given to induce Alzheimer’s symptoms in the rats. The rats were then divided into 5 groups: a control group, a group receiving an injection of saline solution, a group receiving saline with 30 mg/kg of ICA, one receiving 60mg/kg of ICA, and one group receiving 120 mg/kg of ICA (2017, p. 3). The rats were then tested in a Morris water maze (MWM) to see if there were any differences between the completion times and other markers of the test …show more content…
After the maze test, the brains of the rats were examined, and the ICA treatment “increased the number of synapses, the percentage of perforated synapses, the synaptic active zone length, the PSD thickness, and the synaptic curvature while narrowing the synaptic cleft and reducing the percentage of flat synapses” (2017, p.5). In other words, the brains of the ICA groups had improved physically compared to the control group and saline-only
Oken, Barry S. 1999, The efficacy of Ginkgo biloba on cognitive function in Alzheimer disease. Journal of American Medical Association 281(5): 402.
In the 1960s, Joseph Altman from MIT reported that new neurons were being produced in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus of adult rat brains. Although such findings were groundbreaking, they failed to create the stir that Elizabeth Gould's 1998 study caused . The Princeton University neurobiologist demonstrated that the marmoset b...
One approach that the researchers are following includes transplanting few neural stem cells from the brain of a normal person into the brain of patient suffering from Alzheimer’s (Abdel-Salam and Omar, 2011). Through this the researchers hope that patient’s brain will start making healthy neurons but even if the transplantation is successful there is no guarantee that the symptoms will reduce as during Alzheimer’s many areas of the brain get damaged (euros...
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects cognitive function in the elderly population. The exact cause of the disease is unknown but may include genetic as well as environmental factors. A progression of specific neurological changes allows the progression of the disease. Short-term memory losses along with dementia are typical symptoms of the disease. A definite diagnosis of the disease currently can only be confirmed by an autopsy. The disease progresses in five stages that will vary with every patient. There is no current acceptable treatment to reverse or stop the progression of the disease.
Thesis/Preview Statement – Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes a decline in brain function, it destroys healthy nerve cells. Today, we have discussed Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis of AD.
Alzheimer’s disease is a complex illness that affects the brain tissue directly and undergoes gradual memory and behavioral changes which makes it difficult to diagnose. It is known to be the most common form of dementia and is irreversible. Over four million older Americans have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to triple in the next twenty years as more people live into their eighties and nineties. (Johnson, 1989). There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but throughout the past few years a lot of progress has been made.
The brain is protected by a tightly packed lining of cells called the blood-brain barrier. However, some drugs are able to pass through and influence the operation of the brain. These drugs alter consciousness by facilitating or inhibiting synaptic transmission. A synapse is a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap acro...
Cummings, Jeffrey L., Cole, Greg. “Alzheimer Disease.” Journal of the American Medical Association. May 2002: 287-18. Health Source. EBSCOhost. Utica College Lib. 15 Apr 2005. .
...inoic acid is a possible way to decrease the oxidative stress levels in the brain.
First, the Electrical synapse relies on having two cells spanning across two membranes and the synaptic cleft between them (Shepard and Hanson, 2014, para. 2). Overall, the purpose of the Electrical synapse for the nervous system is for the synapse to carry out impulses and reflexes. On the contrary, the neuronal structure of the Synapse’s Chemical synapse involves the role of neurotransmitters in the nervous system. Located between the nerve cells, the gland cells, and the muscle cells, the Chemical synapse allows neurons for the CNS to develop interconnected neutral circuits. According to Davis (2007), “Interconnected logical computations that underlie perception and thought” (p.17). Generally, regarding the Chemical synapse’s role in the nervous system, this classification of the Synapse has a valuable role on how drugs affect the nervous system actions on synapses. As a result, the activity of the neurotransmitters becomes the key contributor for the Chemical synapse to effectively process drugs in the nervous system and throughout the human autonomy. Defines as a chemical released across the Synapse of a neuron, neurotransmitters manipulates the body to believe the drugs are neurotransmitters as well (Davis, 2007, p. 19). Significantly, the role of drugs in the human body help prevents the obliteration of neurotransmitters in the nervous system (Davis, 2007, p. 19).
In the modern age scientists and researchers are constantly discovering new diseases and disorders that affect the human body. With technology improving and new equipment being introduced it enables scientists to gain more knowledge about the disorders than ever before. During the last century a German physician by the name of Alois Alzheimer linked a patient’s memory loss to her brain autopsy which displayed signs of brain shrinkage. His discovery is now known today as Alzheimer’s disease; which is a form of dementia and is a psychological disease that causes the brain to deteriorate. In today’s day and age, there are still many unanswered questions about Alzheimer’s disease (Crider, A., Goethals, G., Kavanough, R., & Solomon, P. 1989). A few known facts are that Alzheimer’s disease is it is most commonly found in elderly humans, with majority of carriers being age 60 or older. It is important to note that Alzheimer’s disease is not an old person’s disease and that it can also be found in adults of younger ages. Furthermore, there are two forms of Alzheimer’s disease. The two forms are called Early-onset which is found in adults ages 30-59 and Late-Onset which is more common and occurs in adults ages 60 and up. Alzheimer’s disease may not be curable, however with the right information it can be easy to conquer (Alzheimer and Dementia Resources).
Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that becomes more prevalent with age. Discovered by German psychologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906, it is associated with a memory loss, speech impediment, and dementia. In Canada alone, 500,000 people suffer from this terrible disease and the number of cases is predicted to double by 2031[7]. Worldwide, nearly 44 million people are believed to be experiencing Alzheimer’s disease and every 68 seconds, someone in the United States of America develops Alzheimer’s [8]. Alzheimer’s disease is also the sixth leading cause of death in North America. Furthermore, it is the only leading cause of death that is still increasing in prevalence. Not only fatal, Alzheimer’s is also severely crippling for all the friends and family that are affected by the patient. The memory loss and dementia that is directly linked to Alzheimer’s disease can cause the patient to forget the identity of their loved ones. For the people that have known the patient for many years, this can be very devastating. The long and terrible journey from an able-bodied and functioning member of society to a barely self-sufficient person is not a pleasant one. Undoubtedly, Alzheimer’s disease needs to be cured not only for those suffering from the affliction, but for their loved ones who have to endure the fateful journey as well.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, and this terminal, progressive brain disorder has no known cause or cure. Its greatest known risk factor is increasing age which is why is it is infamous for developing in the elderly, typically in ages 65 or over, however for the 5%(1) that develop Alzheimer’s in their 40s or 50s it is known as early Alzheimer’s. Because Alzheimer’s worsens over time, those with it tend to struggle with completing daily tasks especially elderly people. Given that there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, the treatments available slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. It is not known what causes Alzheimer's, however, those with Alzheimer's have been found to have abnormal amounts of protein (amyloid plaques) and fibres.(The amyloid plaques and fibres are found in regions of the brain where problem solving and thinking take place e.g The cerebrum.) Due to the unusual amounts of amyloid plaques and fibres, it reduces the effectiveness of healthy neurons and eventually, destroying them.
Alzheimer's disease is ending the brains and lives of our country's people, stealing them from memory, the ability to reason, and affecting their emotions and behavior. Alzheimer's disease weakens the brain. The longer we live the greater the risk: one out of every two Americans aged 85 and older and one out of every 10 aged 65 and older are afflicted with the disease. It affects two groups: those with the disease and the loved ones who care for them. Alzheimer's diseases changes the way people view the world.
Alzheimer’s Disease is named after a German doctor, who specializes in the brain and nervous system, named Alois Alzheimer. This Disease forms in the brain. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of Dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to enter. The Tau protein ensures the tubes in your brain stay straight allowing molecules to pass through freely. In Alzheimer’s Disease the protein collapses into strands or tangles, making the tubes disintegrate. There is visible differences of brain tissue in the from misfolded proteins called plaques and tangles. Beta-Amyloid clumps block signals and communication between cells in the brain. Researchers agree that Alzheimer’s Disease is m...