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2008 marks the 102nd anniversary of a small medical meeting in Tbingen, Germany Physician Alois Alzheimer presented the case of Auguste D. Alzheimer first saw Auguste in 1901-- she was 51. Auguste plagued by symptoms that did not fit any known diagnosis:
*rapidly failing memory
*confusion *disorientation *trouble expressing thoughts *unfounded suspicions about family & hospital staff
Alzheimers
is
is
has
Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains change as we age. Most notice slowed thinking & occasional problems remembering things. However, serious memory loss, confusion and other major changes in the way our minds work are not a normal part of aging. They may be a sign that brain cells are failing.
The brain has 100 billion nerve cells (neurons). Each nerve cell communicates with many others to form networks. Nerve cell networks have special jobs.
Some are involved in thinking, learning & memory. Others help us see, hear & smell.
Still others tell our muscles when to move.
Cells also process & store information. Keeping everything running requires coordination as well as large amounts of fuel and oxygen.
Stage 1: No impairment
Stage 2: Very mild decline Stage 3: Mild decline Stage 4: Moderate decline
(mild or early stage) (moderate or mid-stage)
There are now more than 5 million people in the United States living with Alzheimers.
Every 72 seconds, someone develops Alzheimers. The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimers and other dementias amount to more than $148 billion annually.
Average age of onset 65 -- some cases as early as 30
Alzheimer's
10 Warning Signs
disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for "that thing for my mouth. What's normal? Sometimes trouble finding the right word.
Alzheimers disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home. What's normal? Forgetting the day of the week or where you were going.
Alzheimers may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers. What's normal? Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time.
disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. What's normal? Misplacing keys or a wallet temporarily.
Alzheimers disease may show rapid mood swings from calm to tears to anger for no apparent reason. What's normal? Occasionally feeling sad or moody.
disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities. What's normal? Sometimes feeling weary of work or social obligations.
Is gradually unable to follow Is usually able to follow written/spoken directions written/spoken directions Is gradually unable to use Is usually able to use notes as notes as reminders reminders Is gradually unable to care for Is usually able to care for self self
BRAIN IMAGES
NORMAL BRAIN
ADVANCED ALZHEIMERS
STAGES
EARLY
MILD
SEVERE ALZHEIMERS
NORMAL BRAIN
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that insulin, by shielding memory-forming synapses from harm, may slow or prevent the damage and memory loss caused by toxic proteins in Alzheimer's disease.
The researchers discovered that damage to neurons exposed to ADDLs (short for "amyloid beta-derived diffusible ligands") was blocked by insulin, which kept ADDLs from attaching to the cells.
<They also found that protection by low levels of insulin was enhanced by rosiglitazone>
ADDLs are known to attack memory-forming synapses. After ADDL binding, synapses lose their
capacity to respond to incoming information, resulting in memory loss.
The cell is normal, with high levels of synapses (green) and almost no ADDLs (red) bound to it.