ALZHEIME'S DISEASE
Examining the potential use of beta secretase enzymes in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Examining the potential use of beta secretase enzymes in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Efforts to develop a drug for Alzheimer's disease, which mostly affect people in older age, have not been successful. Instead, most of the treatments offered often target the behavioral symptoms of the affected individual, but not the cause of the disease. The occurrence of the disease has largely been related to amyloid plaques in the brains of the affected individuals. The plaques are composed of amyloid-beta peptides with beta secretase as the enzyme facilitating the generation of amyloid beta. The successful development of a drug for the management of this disease often targets the BACE1, which lowers amyloid beta production and eventual prevention and a possible treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This study provides an account of various clinical trials on mice with the…...

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References

Cole S. L & Vassar, R. (2007). The Alzheimer's disease ?-secretase enzyme, BACE1. Molecular

Neurodegeneration 2007, 2:22 doi:10.1186/1750-1326-2-22

Dominguez D, et al. Phenotypic and biochemical analyses of BACE1- and BACE2-

deficient mice. J Biol Chem. 2005;280:30797 -- 30806

Some treatments may actually help with the disease.
Diets and dietary supplements

Eating vegetables like broccoli and spinach may help older women [and probably men] retain some memory abilities later on, while avoiding obesity in middle age lowers the risk of later Alzheimer's disease in both sexes, new studies suggest." The effect of the vegetables probably comes from the antioxidants and B. vitamins they contain (itter, 2004).

Herbal remedies and other dietary supplements are often promoted as effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease and related diseases. Claims about the safety and effectiveness of these products, however, are based largely on testimonials, tradition, and only a small body of scientific research. The rigorous scientific research required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is not required by law for the marketing of dietary supplements (Imperial, 1998).

Some of these dietary supplements are Coenzyme Q10 or ubiquinone, an antioxidant that occurs naturally in the body; Ginkgo…...

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References

Bird, Thomas. (10 February, 2005). Alzheimer disease overview. Gene Reviews. Retrieved November 22, 2006 at http://www.geneclinics.org/profiles/alzheimer/details.html

Chan, D.; Janssen, J.C.; Whitwell, J.L.; et al. (4 Oct, 2003). Change in rates of cerebral atrophy over time in early-onset Alzheimer's disease: longitudinal MRI study. Lancet.; vol. 362(9390), pp. 1121-1122.

Genetics home reference, (2006). U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved November 22, 2006 at  http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=alzheimerdisease .

Imperial College of Science. (1998). Young onset dementia: epidemiology, clinical symptoms, family burden, support and outcome. London, UK: Dementia Research Group. Retrieved November 22, 2006 at  http://alzheimer.org.uk/Younger_people_with_dementia .

More is learned every day in the field of medicine and nursing, and articles such as this one serve to point out that there is much more that needs to be learned. Serving the elderly population with Alzheimer's disease and treating them for their problems is often quite difficult, but the information in the article regarding what behaviors to look for in individuals that cannot express their pain verbally is very important for many that work in nursing homes, and for others that work with elderly Alzheimer's disease patients.
The article also helps to reinforce existing knowledge in that the instruments that are used to report pain in the elderly population have been seen for some time to be largely insufficient for many patients. For those that still communicate relatively well, this is not so much of a problem, but for patients that cannot verbally and correctly express where they…...

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Bibliography

Alzheimer's Foundation of America. (2008). http://www.alzfdn.org

Bally, K., Campbell, D., Chesnick, K., & Tranmer, J.E. (2003). Effects of patient-controlled music therapy during coronary angiography. Critical Care Nurse, 23(2): 50-58.

Dash, Paul, & Villemarette-Pittman, Nicole. (2005). Alzheimer's disease.

Johnson, J.E. (2003). The use of music to promote sleep in older women. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 20(1): 27-35.

Scientists are racing to find a cure as millions of people reach the age when Alzheimer's is most commonly manifested (Plontz).
Experts are still trying to fully understand the cause or causes of Alzheimer's disease. In the meantime, it's helpful to understand the hallmarks of Alzheimer's -- plaques and tangles -- and the risk factors that affect a person's likelihood of developing the disease (Hill).

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a build-up of proteins in the brain. Though this cannot be measured in a living person, extensive autopsy studies have revealed this phenomenon. The build-up manifests in two ways: Plaques -- deposits of the protein accumulate in the spaces between nerve cells. Tangles -- deposits of the protein that accumulate inside of nerve cells.

Scientists are still studying how plaques and tangles are related to Alzheimer's disease. One theory is that they block nerve cells' ability to communicate with each other, making…...

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Bibliography

Hill, Carrie. "What Causes Alzheimer's Disease?" 4 Mar 2009. about.com. 5 May 2009 .

"history." n.d. alzheimers.factsforhealth.org. 8 May 2009 .

"Living With Alzheimer's." n.d. alzheimerstreatment.org. 8 May 2009 .

Plontz, Michael. "A Brief History of Alzheimer's Disease." n.d. caregiver.com. 8 May 2009 .

Alzheimer's Disease
Stages of Alzheimer's and Activities for people with Dementia

Stages and Symptoms of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Stage 1: No Cognitive Impairment

Alzheimer's Stage 2: Very Mild Cognitive Decline

Alzheimer's Stage 3: Mild Cognitive Decline

Alzheimer's Stage 4: Moderate Cognitive Decline

Alzheimer's Stage 5: Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline

Alzheimer's Stage 6: Severe Cognitive Decline

Alzheimer's Stage 7: Very Severe Cognitive Decline

Activities for people suffering from Dementia

The Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease which affects the brain and leads to impaired thinking and memory processes. It is the most common kind of dementia. Dementia is a syndrome that involves symptoms like loss of memory and judgment, failure to reason and extreme changes in moods, behavior and communication ability.

This disease was first recognized by Dr. Alois Alzheimer back in 1906. He identified this disease by describing two hallmarks of the disease. Firstly, there were the "plaques" which refer to the millions of micro deposits that can be found in the…...

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Work Cited:

Ballard C, Neill D. Anxiety, Depression and Psychosis in vascular dementia: prevalence and associations, 2000.

Hancock GA, Challis. The needs of older people with dementia in residential care. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2005.

Hill, Carrie. Alzheimer's symptoms. 2010. Web.

 http://alzheimers.about.com/od/symptomsofalzheimers/a/symptoms.htm

In fact, many researchers believed that free radicals, produced when the body burns oxygen to produce energy consumed in food, may be at cause. Free radicals are believed to damage brain cells by taking electrons away from the body's healthy molecules to balance themselves. A few 'free radicals' is not a problem.

IF there are too many free radicals, the 'oxidative damage' affects the brain causing AD symptoms (Healing with Nutrition eb site).

Other risk factors

Odle (2003) notes that if a person has a first-degree relative (parent, sibling) with AD, that person's relative risk of getting it is about 3.5, or that person is 3.5 times more likely than the rest of us to develop AD. hen the number of first-degree relatives rises to two or more, the relative risk rises to about 7.5.

In addition, people with Down syndrome, who have an extra APP gene, which is located on the 21 chromosomes,…...

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Works Cited

Alzheimers head injury risk." Australasian Business Intelligence, 2002, Unpaged. 25 ct. 2005  http://www.highbeam.com .

Barker D, Osmond C, Simmonds S, Wield G. "The relation of small head circumference and thinness at birth to death from cardiovascular disease in later life." BMJ 306:422-426 (1993).

Bick KL. "The early story of Alzheimer disease." In: Terry, RD, Katzman R, Bick KL, Sisodia SS, eds. Alzheimer Disease. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999:1-10.

Blank, Robert H. "Brain Scan: Studying the Human Brain Reveals Complex Issues. Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy, 1998;13,3:90+.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most researched ailments in the world of medicine. This discussion will explore the working hypothesis that caloric restriction may prevent Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the paper will explore the idea that individuals with the ApoE genotype and a higher intake of calories have a higher risk of AD than those who do not carry the apoE4 allele (diet-gene interaction). Let's begin the discussion by examining the genetics of AD.
Genetics of AD - specifically the mechanism of apoE in AD

Alzheimer's Disease is a form of dementia that is marked by the loss of mental ability and various cognitive functions. The disease usually occurs in old age and is not detectable at birth. (Robinson) There is no consensus on the cause of AD but researchers have found a genetic link in the development of the disorder. The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine explains that there are…...

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Bibliography

Alzheimer Discourse: Some Sociolinguistic Dimensions. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1997.

Alzheimer's disease; Many voices, one message: research." The Washington Times 15 Nov. 2002: A23..

A www.questia.com/PM.qst?action=openPageViewer&docId=5000452518

Cummings, Sherry M., and Clifford Cockerham. "Ethical dilemmas in discharge planning for patients with Alzheimer's disease." Health and Social Work 22.2 (1997): 101+. Questia. 12 Nov. 2003  http://www.questia.com/ .

Alzheimer's Disease
Over the last several decades, Alzheimer's has become a major health issue affecting large segments of the population. Evidence of this can be seen with the fact that it impacts nearly 5.4 million Americans and it has total annual cost of $183 billion. ("2011 Alzheimer's Facts and Figures," 2011) This is significant, because it is illustrating how the overall scope and severity of the disease has been continually increasing. In the case of African-Americans, they are more likely to be susceptible to this condition. As this segment, is reporting 14% more cases in comparison to the rest of the population. ("African-Americans and Alzheimer's," 2011) To fully understand the disease and its lasting effects requires: examining the condition itself, the factors that make this segment of the population vulnerable, environmental issues that are impacting this demographic, the modes for transmission, the methods in controlling the spread of the disease /…...

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Bibliography

10 Signs of Alzheimer's. (2011). Alzheimer's Association. Retrieved from:  http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp 

2011 Alzheimer's Facts and Figures. (2011). Alzheimer's Association. Retrieved from:  http://www.alz.org/downloads/Facts_Figures_2011.pdf 

African-Americans and Alzheimer's. (2011). Alzheimer's Association. Retrieved from:  http://www.alz.org/national/documents/report_africanamericanssilentepidemic.pdf 

What is Alzheimer's. (2011). Alzheimer's Association. Retrieved from:  http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp #basics

S. will see average 44% increase in Alzheimer's disease by 2025.
Type of information: This fact sheet describes the potential for growth in cases of Alzheimer's disease in the first quarter of this century.

Specific Detail: 1. Southeastern and estern states will see the largest increases in Alzheimer's through 2025.

2. U.S. Census data notes that the number of Americans age 65 and over will double by 2025

3. Utah will see a 127% increase in Alzheimer's disease, Alaska hundred and 26% increase, the Colorado will see 124% increase.

4. Only the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island will not see an increase in Alzheimer's disease.

5. Close to 7.7 million people are estimated to have Alzheimer's disease by the year 2025.

Source Rating: 3. At dependable source for information on increases of Alzheimer's disease.

Source: Alzheimer's Association. Facts About Genes and Alzheimer's disease. 09 November 2004. http://www.alz.org/grtrcinc/aahatGeneticTesting.htm

Type of information: A great overview of Alzheimer's disease and…...

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Works Cited

Alzheimer's Association. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE and RELATED DEMENTIAS FACT SHEET. 09 November 2004.  http://www.alz.org/Resources/FactSheets/factrelateddisorder.pdf 

Alzheimer's Association. Facts About Genes and Alzheimer's disease. 09 November 2004.  http://www.alz.org/grtrcinc/aaWhatGeneticTesting.htm 

Alzheimer's Association. Fact Sheet, 2004. Alzheimer's Disease growth: The U.S. will see average 44% increase in Alzheimer's disease by 2025.

Bennett, David a. Alzheimer's Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends, and Caregivers. Hunter House, 2003.

) Researcher believe that when Alzheimer's begins to attack, it hits the "factory" of cell groups that otherwise are functioning perfectly. There are breakdowns in the communications that the cell groups hitherto provided, and although scientists don't know precisely where the attack is first launched by Alzheimer's, but they do understand that "as the damage spreads, cells lose their ability to do their jobs and, eventually die, causing irreversible changes in the brain" (www.alz.org).
Prime "suspects" in that attack on the cell groups are "plaques and tangles," AA explains. Plaques are deposits of a certain protein called "betaamyloid" (pronounced "BAY-tuh AM-uh-loyd"); the protein fragments build up in the spaces between the nerve cells. Tangles are "twisted fibers" from a different protein called "tau" (that rhymes with "wow") that build up inside the nerve cells. It is known that all humans develop tangles and plaques to some degree, but those who are…...

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Works Cited

Alzheimer's Association. (2010). Major Milestones in Alzheimer's Research. Retrieved Nov. 2,

2010 from  http://www.alz.org/research/science/major_milestones_in_alzheimers.asp .

Alzheimer's Association. (2009). What is Alzheimer's? Retrieved Nov. 2, 2010, from  http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp .

Callone, Patricia R. (2010). Alzheimer's Disease: The Dignity Within: A Handbook for Caregivers, Family, and Friends. Oregon: ReadHowYouWant.com.

A. Harvard Women's Health Watch (2010) Preserving and improving memory as we age. Feb 1: NA

B. This is an article that is written directly to consumers who are over the age of 50 and are starting to notice changes in the ability to remember things. It addresses the fact that this wrongly causes fear in some people that they are prone toward Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that cognitive decline and the risk of dementia can be maintained with general health habits, such as staying physically active, getting enough sleep, not smoking, having good social connections, limiting alcohol to one drink a day, and eating a balanced diet low in saturated and trans fats. The article provides a number of different ways that people can improve their cognitive abilities, such as blocking: When someone is asked a question and the cannot immediately respond -- the answer is on the tip…...

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References

Ajamian, P.C. (2010) Keep Alzheimer's in mind; if optometrists could identify early Alzheimer's disease in just 1% of their patients, 500,000 people could be helped. Review of Optometry 147(2): 105-107

Bruce, L.A. (2010) Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease. MedSurg Nursing 19(1): 51-54

Doody, R.S., Paylik, V., Massman, P. et al. Predicting progression of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2:2

Harvard Women's Health Watch (2010) Preserving and improving memory as we age. Feb 1: NA

In light of the knowledge provided by these case studies, it is important to note certain flaws in the methodology of each cases study. The study in the case of midlife neuroticism, the researchers do not take into account pre- existing conditions such the brain structure and function associated with greater neuroticism. Failure to proper diagnosis might lead to early presentation of Alzheimer's disease in response to pathology. As for establishing a relationship between Alzheimer's disease and African-Americans, this case study provides great insight however the sample is not representative of that ethnic population. Next, studies also considered paralleling Alzheimer's disease with impaired awareness deficit and neuro-psychiatric symptoms in early Alzheimer's, researchers used a bias sample group in the sense that the participants in this study had also participated in psychosocial intervention this is clearly selection bias which renders the results of this study however great unreliable as for the…...

esearch Methods

At the current time, no clinical studies have been conducted that use a randomized sample and strict controls in relation to the use of statins to prevent and control Alzheimer's Disease. The proposed research intends to fill this important research gap and conduct a clinical study that compares the development of Alzheimer's Disease between patients that use statins and a group that does not use statins for a specified amount of time. These two groups will not be using statins for control of coronary artery disease, to eliminate any confounding variables that may be a result of CAD and Alzheimer's. Patients will be given statins for the sole purpose of preventing and/or controlling Alzheimer's disease.

The purpose of the proposed research is to provide reliable research that examines the potential for use of statins to control Alzheimer's Disease. The research will be conducted using strict clinical controls and under the…...

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References

Algotsson, a. & Winblad, B. (2004). Patients with Alzheimer's Disease May Be Particularly Susceptible to Adverse Effects of Statins. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 17: 109-116. PubMed.

Hoglund, K. & Blennow, K. (2007). Effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on ?-amyloid peptide levels: Implications for Alzheimer's disease. CNS drugs. 21 (6): 449-462. PubMed.

Jick, H., Zornberg, G., & Jick, S. et al. (2000). Statins and the risk of dementia

The Lancet. 356 (9242): 1627-1631 PubMed

Market Analysis of Alzheimer's Drug
Alzheimer is a disease that leads to the progressive and irreversible brain disorders, which destroy thinking skills and memory of the affected person. The disease also affects individual's ability to carry out certain tasks. The symptom of Alzheimer appears in most people at their mid-60s, and has been the common cause of dementia among people 60 years and older. Major symptoms of Alzheimer include memory loss, inability to comprehend simple language, and unpredictable problems. The symptoms occur in the affected person because there is a lack of connection in the neurons (nerve cells) of the brain. Since neurons transmit messages to the different part of the brains, organs, and muscles, the neuron of the affected persons many face challenges transmitting messages to the brains and organs. In the United States, FDA (Food Drug and Administration) has put different drugs for the clinical trials for the treatment…...

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Reference

Alzheimer's Association (2016). 2016 Alzheimer's disease facts and figure. Alzheimer's & Dementia: 12(4): 459-509.

Alzheimer's Association (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's disease facts and figure. Alzheimer's & Dementia 11: 332-384.

Qui, C. Kivipelto, M. & Strauss, E.V. (2009). Epidemiology of Alzheimer's disease: occurrence, determinants, and strategies toward intervention. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 11(2): 111-128.

Reardon, S. (2015). Alzheimer antibody drugs show questionable potential. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery.

Alzheimer's Inpatient Facility
The main goal of this Alzheimer's inpatient facility is to provide a suitable alternative for outside care of patients suffering from the condition. Through this process, the facility will help caregivers and families to avoid the burdens associated with providing care for Alzheimer's patients, especially emotional stress and depression. The proposed project will specifically focus on obeson County in North Carolina, which has only one fully-equipped Alzheimer's unit that care for patients with this condition as well as dementia. In order for the proposed project to achieve its respective goals and objectives, the development of an effective operation plan and establishing effective management policies and practices is crucial.

Operational Plan

The operation plan for this Alzheimer's Agency will incorporate daily operations, detailed description of the type of location for the facility, legal aspects for operation, handling customers, and personnel. With regards to the daily operations of the business, the facility…...

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References

NC Division of Health Service Regulation. (2014, September 5). Establishing a Nursing Home. Retrieved from North Carolina's Division of Health Service website:  http://www2.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/nhlcs/flonh.htm 

"Regulations and Guidelines for Special Care Units." (n.d.). Chapter 5. Retrieved from Princeton University website:  https://www.princeton.edu/~ota/disk1/1992/9234/923407.PDF 

Wegerer, J. (2014, March 27). How to Find an Alzheimer's Care Manager. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from  http://www.alzheimers.net/2014-03-27/alzheimers-care-manager/

Improved oral health care can greatly benefit individuals living with dementia in the following ways 1. Pain management Good oral hygiene can help prevent dental issues such as cavities, gum disease, and infections that can cause pain and discomfort. Individuals with dementia may not be able to communicate their pain effectively, so preventing oral health problems can help reduce their pain and improve their quality of life. 2. Nutrition Poor oral health can make it difficult for individuals with dementia to eat properly, leading to malnutrition and other health issues. By maintaining good oral hygiene, individuals with dementia can better....

1. Plants have developed a fascinating array of chemical defenses to protect themselves from various threats such as herbivores, pathogens, and environmental stressors. These chemical compounds not only play a crucial role in the survival of plants but also have the potential to benefit human health through their unique properties. Researchers have increasingly turned their attention to exploring the therapeutic potential of plant chemical defenses in medical treatments and therapies. By harnessing the power of these natural compounds, scientists aim to develop new drugs, supplements, and therapies that could effectively combat various diseases and improve human health.

2. One way....

Bilingualism has long been a topic of interest in cognitive science and neuroscience due to its potential impact on cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve refers to the brains ability to withstand damage or aging before cognitive deficits become apparent. Research has shown that bilingualism can have significant effects on cognitive reserve from both cognitive and neural perspectives. From a cognitive perspective, bilingualism has been associated with enhanced cognitive abilities such as attention, executive functions, and working memory. Bilingual individuals have been found to have better inhibitory control and task-switching abilities compared to monolinguals. The constant need to switch between languages and....