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Alzheimer
Research |
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Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a
large category of disorders that lead to a progressive deterioration of
thinking and of memory. People affected with Alzheimer’s, normally 65 years
old and above, also experience behavioral changes such as agitation,
aggression and an inability to find the way even in familiar surroundings,
in addition to cognitive and memory impairment.
Current Alzheimer research has yet to point out the real cause of the
disorder, but there are many theories involved. The first real step to
Alzheimer research happened in 1906 from the observations of Dr. Alois
Alzheimer, for whom the disease was named after. After examining the brain
tissue of a deceased dementia patient of his, he observed the “plaques and
tangles”, both of which are now accepted as primary features of the disease.
That is to say, if these plaques and tangles are present in a person’s
brain, then that person has Alzheimer’s. But, of course, this could only be
done post mortem and hence the need for another way of determining the
presence of these plaques and tangles without need of dissecting the brain.
The next step in Alzheimer research, particularly in diagnosing the disease,
is to eliminate other known diseases that can cause dementia or
dementia-like symptoms. Afterwards, the patient is made to undergo a battery
of psychological and memory tests in order to diagnose Alzheimer’s.
To increase accuracy in diagnosis even further, Alzheimer research also came
up with brain imaging techniques, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). There is even one approach where a
harmless radioactive chemical – a molecular “probe” or “marker” – that can
be safely injected into the blood stream. This “probe” will eventually get
into the brain where it attaches to tangles or plaques, “labeling” them in a
way and allowing these features to be visualized in the imaging system. The
clinician will then know just how many there are and apply the right dose of
anti-plaque treatment.
A recent advancement in Alzheimer research takes the genetic approach to the
disease. Scientists believe that Alzheimer’s and the “apoE4” gene are linked
so that if a person has this particular strain of gene in his genetic
coding, chances are he will develop Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer research has been
done on genetic testing which can contribute to the accuracy and rapidity of
diagnosis.
Age is another risk factor that is more obvious than the presence of the
apoE4 gene. Alzheimer research shows that genes associated with Familial
Alzheimer’s, which comprises about 7% of the Alzheimer population, are
inherited. This means that the genes have something to do with the enormous
family susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease.
There are many more Alzheimer research currently being done today. Although
much of them are focused on finding treatment, therapies, and drugs to help
patients, there are also studies that aim to prove the many hypotheses on
Alzheimer’s. |
| This article
is provided courtesy of Roxanne Courtmanch. Please visit
www.thehelpingcircle.com for more articles on Alzheimers
as well as many other topics that may be of interest to you. |
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Alzheimer Articles
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Alois
Alzheimer
Alois Alzheimer. You may have heard of him. His name certainly occupies a
top spot,
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Alzheimer Association
On April 10, 1980, the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related
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Alzheimer Prevention
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative illness that
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Alzheimer Research
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a
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Alzheimer Spray Cure
In 1906, Alzheimer’s disease was first discovered after
observing the neuropathological anatomy of a 55-year old woman’s brain.
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Alzheimer Stages
A condition that mainly affects the brain functions, Alzheimer’s disease is
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Alzheimer Symptoms
Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder of the brain characterized as
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