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