To what extent can Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease be prevented by Modern Medicine?

By Alisha Wallace

Why I chose Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease…

Great Grandad had the disease

I had little insight into the disease

Wanted to learn more about the disease

Lack of knowledge of Early-Onset Alzheimer's

Initial Research

Different types of Dementia

Needed knowledge to analyse data

Research Plan

Books I read…

1. ‘Jan’s Story’ by Barry Petersen

• Sentimental not scientific

2. ‘Alzheimer’s disease: what if there was a

cure?’ by Mary Newport

• Use of ketones as alternative fuel

Secondary Research

Favoured secondary research

Based on research already conducted

Modern medicine= recent research

Internet/websites

Research has been published online

Alzheimer’s Association

Useful website

Respected charity

Wide range of research

Information on:

Different types of dementia

Stages

Medications/treatments

Risk factors

Contacting Specialists

Contacted 7 initially

Asked Biology teachers

AllExperts.com

1. Cindy Keith

2. Michalene Peticca

What my project is about…

Prevention of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

Not a finite answer

Individualised disease

Difficult to prevent entirely

1. Lifestyle

2. Genes (DeMoe family)

Plaques and Tangles

Hallmark of Alzheimer’s

disease

Blocks cell-to-cell

communication

Death of brain cells

No known cause

Green- the part of the brain

involved in thinking and

planning

Red- the part of the brain

involved in learning and

memory.

Earliest Stages of Alzheimer’s

Blue- speaking and understanding speech

Yellow- Your sense of where your body is in

relation to objects around you.

Mild-Moderate Alzheimer’s

Moderate-Severe Alzheimer’s

Brain shrinks due

to widespread cell

death

Glucose as Fuel

Glucose= main energy

source for the body

Insulin needed for glucose

to get into cells

Type 3 Diabetes

Teenagers= 100:1

Elderly= 29:1

With Alzheimer's= 2:1

Ketones as Fuel

Don’t need insulin

Alternative to glucose

Increase levels of ketones

o MCT/ Coconut Oil

o Ketogenic Diet

Steve’s Clocks

When asked to draw a

clock this is what he

drew…

“…it felt like a light had been switched

on…”

Conclusion Cannot be prevented currently

Genetics

Slow down progression

Lessen symptoms

Much like cancer

How it has helped me…

Increased research skills

Effective time management

Essay writing skills

Links to my degree

What I would do differently next time…

Extend research plan

Contact more specialists

Contact specialists sooner