Alzheimer’sWhat is it and how do we

slow the disease?

About Alzheimer’s• Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive

brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and

thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry

out the simplest tasks.

• The damage initially appears to

take place in the hippocampus

(essential to forming memories).

• As more neurons die, other parts

of the brain are affected, and

they begin to shrink as well.

Signs & Symptoms

• Memory problems are typically the first signs of

cognitive impairment related to Alzheimer’s

disease.

• For many, decline in non-memory aspects of

cognition (word-finding, vision/spatial issues,

reasoning or judgement) may signal early stages

of the disease.

What Causes Alzheimer’s?

• Scientists don’t fully understand what causes

Alzheimer’s disease in most people.

• The causes are believed to be a combination of

genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

• The influence of each factor increasing or

decreasing ones risk of developing the disease

may differ from person to person.

Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’s

Disease• Conduct tests of memory, problem solving,

attention, counting, and language.

• Carry out standard medical tests, such as blood

and urine tests, to identify other possible causes

of the problem.

• Perform brain scans - computed tomography (CT),

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), pr positron

emission tomography - to rule out other possible

causes for the symptoms.

A Glimmer Of Hope

• Few things are more precious than memory, and

for years, thousands have suffered with watching

their loved ones lose themselves to the raves of

Alzheimer’s disease.

• Alzheimer’s disease robs us of our loved ones too

soon, but a solution is on the horizon.

Fight Against Alzheimers

• Researchers have found a way to fight against the

decay of memory, possibly to stop it entirely.

• A protein has been discovered which causes

memory impairment when it builds in the blood

and brain.

• These researchers have discovered how to block

the production of this protein, preventing the

eventual loss of memory.

Blood Plasma The Key

• Recent discoveries led scientists to theorize that

blood plasma is the key to curing many age-based

ailments.

• By focusing their collective efforts on identifying

the components in blood plasma that lead to

Alzheimer’s disease, patients are already

preparing to undergo trails.

• The process could be capable of slowing down

the aging process and all of its rigors.

What Led To

Discovery?• Observations of mice with increased levels of

beta-2-micoglobulin, or B2M.

• This protein (produced in mice and humans)

increased in saturation as the subject aged.

• Furthermore, subjects in need of long-term kidney

dialysis often suffered from raised levels of B2M in

their blood, resulting in faster decline of cognition.

Hypothesis Proven

• The younger mice, memories intact, would run the

test (solving a maze) while searching for specific

checkpoints.

• When B2M was introduced into their systems,

however, researchers noticed a drastic change.

• The younger mice began to falter where they’d

just recently displayed mastery of the maze.

What Lies Ahead?

• Tests will be continued to see what types of

treatments can be developed for the infirm.

• We may live to see this protein expunged from our

bodies entirely.

• This discovery is uplifting, as eradication of

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia will not only

ensure a new quality of life, but promise the

preservation of a lifetime’s worth of cherished

memories.