ALZHIEMERS DISEASE IN UK

‘’The Dementia Time bomb’’

By VISHAL ZAVERI AND ORE AJAI

What is Alzheimer's disease?• Dementia= death of neuronal cells in the brain causing

memory loss. Some forms are reversible and some are irreversible

• Alzheimer's disease: progressive neuronal cell death deteriorating all regions of the brain stopping physical and mental functioning. (3-20 yrs+)

Causing loss of • Memory• Cognitive functioning• Speech • Vision• Ultimately leading to death!

Epidimeology820,000 cases of dementia in UK450,000 cases are Alzhiemer’sFinancial cost is over £23bn pa, that is twice that of cancer, three times the

impact of heart disease and four times that of strokeMen, Women and all racial, economic and social groups are affected.

AD is not natural for ageing it is pathological!Youngest age- 28 years

65-75 75-85 85+0

1020304050

Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease at different age

Prevalence (%)

Age

Proposed Pathogenesis

Described by Alois Alzhiemer’s- 105 years ago

Still nothing has been done !

Stages and SymptomsEarly

Alzheimer's Moderate

severe

Learning and STM memory

Thinking & Planning Speaking and

understanding

SENSES

LTM affected Whole cortex is

damaged

Risk factors• Genetic Factors- rareFamilial AD- causing early onset AD – mutations in APP gene(chr21), OR

presenilin genes(PSEN-1 (chr14) OR PSEN-2(chr1). Late onset- APOE-4 (everyone has one copy).

Down Syndrome- both mutations for APP and DS- tend to always get AD at 40yrs.

Environmental OtherHead injuries with loss of consciousness= *3 Depression Ingestion of Aluminium salts MCICountryside Obesity Mother’s age at your birth Diabetes

DiagnosisPET scan-glucose metabolism

Treatment • Incurable but symptoms can be managedCholinesterase

inhibitorsAricept, Exelon(patch),

Razadyne

Glutamate regulatorNamenda for severe AD

Current research• Researchers in 2013 studied mice and found that

after administering mice with Alzhiemer’s disease, neuronal cell death stopped!

• However side effects were ample!

• Latest drug failure- Gammagard

Current Research

References

• http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/7-2007/symptoms-of-severe-alzheimers-disease.html

• http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/alzheimer-s-researchers-say-they-are-undeterred-by-latest-drug-failure-1.1297965

• http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_1973.asp

• http://www.triumf.ca/research-highlights/experimental-result/cutting-edge-alzheimers-research

• http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/• http://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/about/

understanding/plaques-and-tangles.html