“Protein may guard against Alzheimer’s disease”
The Boston Globe published an article called Protein may guard against Alzheimer’s disease, by Carolyn Y. Johnson (2014). In this article Johnson writes about, the evidence that Harvard researchers have found on the causation of Alzheimer’s disease. Harvard researchers know one of the causes of Alzheimer’s, the failure of a natural system that protects brain cells (Johnson 2014). This paper explains the research done by Harvard researchers and also includes what Laura A. King (2013) states in Experience Psychology about Alzheimer and brain parts.
“One of our concerns is the fact there are 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, but we have no treatments to slow, stop, or prevent the disease,” said Dean Hartley, director of science initiatives for the Alzheimer’s Association. “It’s basic research like this that we think will be important not only to understand this disease, but the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s is aging — and that’s what is intriguing” (Johnson 2014). Through some laboratory tests, scientists found that REST, type of protein, has an effect on Alzheimer disease. Scientists examined brain of several Alzheimer’s patients after their death, and they found lower levels of REST in their brains. According to these scientists, these proteins are helpful to the brain cells. “In laboratory tests, REST protected brain cells from dying when exposed to a number of stresses, including the proteins that form the plaque in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients ” (Johnson 2014). Bruce Yankner, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, became interested to see what happens to the brain cells as we age. “Because studies that involve genetic manipulation are...
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...hing like alzheimer. When a close family member gets sick or diagnosed with a disease, we automatically start making assumptions and we become worry. If we are informed about a disease, then we know it is not something as harmful as we would think it is. My grandmother suffers from Alzheimer disease. I had some information on Alzheimer, but this article helped a lot to understand what brain actually goes through, when it is diagnosed with Alzheimer. As I said, when we first saw the sign and symptoms of Alzheimer in her, we became very scared. We did not know a lot about Alzheimer, all we knew was that it is loss of memory. If we were aware of its cause and what it actually is, it wouldn’t scare us as much. This article also gives me hope, because I know there are scientists concerned about this disease, and they may find a cure for it, by doing further researches.
The researchers of this paper will be researching the effects of Alzheimer’s on society as well as the individual. Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that causes mental deterioration. The researchers will discuss the effects of Alzheimer’s disease on the individual, the effects of Alzheimer’s on the caregivers, and the effects of Alzheimer’s on society. Alzheimer’s disease is like many other diseases; early detection is best because deterioration of the brain cells can be delayed. Greutzner, H. Alzheimer’s disease has a tremendous effect on the lives of those who live with the disease.
...sion of the disease. In addition, the risk factors and preventive measures are quite clear. These can help those who are unaware of what Alzheimer’s disease is or how it progresses. Future studies may prove to be beneficial in preventing the occurrence of Alzheimer’s, or at least the severity of its’ progression. Informing people of this disease, the risk factors, and preventive measures at a younger age, can only prove beneficial in the decrease or possible elimination of this physically and mentally altering disease. Living a healthy life now can only increase your chances of having a healthier life in old age.
In the 17th and the 19th century dementia was synonymous with insanity. Still many knew that people with this disease suffered from permanent damage that was irreversible unlike mental disorders where the brain remains intact (2006). Dementia was often known as senile which is common with old age. Studies through the years have shown that it is much more serious and causes damage to areas of the brain. Alois Alzheimer in 1910 noticed tangles, plaques, and arterio...
...the world. There is no cure for dementia and the other diseases relating to dementia. Dementia is the leading cause of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease is also the most common disease with dementia (Wieregna, Bondi, 2011). Dementia can affect the patient and families in many emotional ways. Knowing that their loved one will be going through many mental disabilities and probably won’t be able to recall some memories can be tragic. Dementia can also affect families financially. The cost for a patient significantly rises every year due to the increase of the population (Hurd, 2013). Dementia can also lead to Parkinson’s and Huntington disease, which can affect the mobility of the patient (Quinn, Busse, Dal Bello-Hass, 2013). Dementia is still one of the most widely diagnosed diseases around the world. Without a cure for it, many more people will be affected.
memories from their past can be erased and lost in an ageless disease that affects more
Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer's results from a combination of genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. Alzheimer's is caused by specific genetic changes that virtually guarantee a person will develop the disease. The causal effect for this disease is still unknown with fingers pointing to plaques and tangles in the brain. Although the causes of Alzheimer's are not yet fully understood, its effect on the brain is clear. Alzheimer's disease damages and kills brain cells. A brain affected by Alzheimer's disease has many fewer cells and many fewer connections among surviving cells than does a healthy brain. As more and more brain cells die, Alzheimer's leads to enormous brain shrinkage. When doctors examined an Alzheimer's brain tissue under the microscope, they saw two types of abnormalities that are considered the cause of the disease. One of these abnormalities is plaques that clump up, a protein called beta-amyloid which damages and destroys brain cells. In patients with Alzheimer’s the plaques created interfere with cell to cell communication. The other abnormality seen is tangles in the brain. Brain cells depend on an internal support and transport system to carry nutrients and other essential materials throughout their long extensions. This system requires the normal structure and functioning of a protein called tau. In an Alzheimer's patient, the threads of tau protein twist into abnormal tangles inside the brain cells, leading to failure of the transport system. (Alzheimer's Association) (National Institutes of Health, 2012)
In the field of Psychology you can find an abundance of mental disorders that can have an affect on people all throughout the world. Out of all the mental disorders that can be found around the world, some of them are more well-known and more widespread than others. The following disorders could be described as being well-known and widespread disorders: depression, bi-polar disorder, Alzheimer's, and OCD, which could also be called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. All of these mental disorders can be very dangerous and possibly deadly if people don't receive the proper care in order to be able to contain these disorders. Out of these very dangerous and possibly deadly disorders, I believe that Alzheimer's is the most interesting disorder. I think that Alzheimer's is the most interesting disorder, because I think we have the least about of knowledge of the Alzheimer's disorder. As a society we still to this day don't have a cure that totally stops this disorder.
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.
In 1906, a German physician named Dr. Alois Alzheimer dealt with a patient that had been battling severe memory and confusion problems and had tremendous difficulty understanding questions and basic functions. Alzheimer suspected that the ailment had more to it than inherent memory loss. During an autopsy of the brain, he discovered that there were deposits of neuritic plaques surrounding the nerve cells and twisted fibers, known as neurofibrillary tangles, inside of the nerve cells. These observations became the definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The plaques and tangles that develop are a natural part of aging; however, they develop far more aggressively in Alzheimer’s victims. The plaques and tangles then block communication among nerve cells and disrupt the cells processes, eventually killing them. This destruction causes memory failure, personality changes, and problems carrying out everyday functions. Alzheimer’s especially attacks the memory. A victim in the later stage of the disease can...
Scientists know that Alzheimer disease is characterized by a gradual spread of sticky plaques and clumps of tangled fibers that disrupt the organization of nerve cells in the brain. However , a definite cause, prevention, or cause has not been found.
The occurrence and deposits of these proteins in the brain and in the body may ultimately lead to whether or not someone will be susceptible and diagnosed with Alzheimer disease.
Dementia is a disease effecting nearly thirty-six million people worldwide (Whiteman, 2014). Even with so many elderly suffering from the disease, there are many people who don’t know what dementia truly is. People often jump too quickly to the conclusion that dementia is a disease that only effects the memory. They may believe that dementia is inevitable and cannot be cured in any case. They may also believe that dementia is something the majority of elderly will experience when they get older.
“Difficult, depressing, and tragic” are a few of the descriptions generally associated with illness. Those who suffer from dementia, especially, undergo a realm of these characterizations. With this adversity in mind, most people generate a basic understanding based on education rather than personal experience. It is this preconception that can prevent us from gaining a true insight of one’s reality.
Kamphuis, P. H., & Scheltens, P. (2010). Can nutrients prevent or delay onset of alzheimer's disease?. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 20(3), 765-775. doi:10.3233/JAD-2010-091558
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...