Alzheimer’s disease is the leading neurodegenerative disease in elderly adults. It affects more than 30 million people in the world (1). There are a few major markers behind Alzheimer’s disease. These include amyloid β plaque, oxidative stress, and inflammation. A potential target for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease are the processes involved in the synthesis, transport, and function of retinoids.
Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives. They help to regulate differentiation and cell proliferation. Higher expression of retinoid signaling takes place in neuronal plasticity areas such as the hippocampus, retrosplenial, and prefrontal cortex (2). Retinoid signaling in the brain helps to control the brain functions. These include neurotransmitter release, neuronal differentiation, neurite growth, and long term potentiation (3). Retinoids are mediated by nuclear receptors (4). These nuclear receptors include retinoic acid receptors α, β, γ, and retinoid x receptors α, β, and γ.
Retinoids affect many different pathways. Some of the same pathways that retinoids affect are also affected when a person has Alzheimer’s disease. Retinoids regulate the expression receptors, neurotransmitter transporters, cell surface receptors, gene encoding enzymes, transcription factors, and neuropeptide hormones (3). A decrease in retinoic acid signaling may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease because it affects many different pathophysiological pathways (5). These pathways include amyloid β, neurotransmission, inflammation, and neurogenesis (3). Retinoids also regulate a few of the genes for neurons that contain recognition sequences for the retinoid receptor proteins.
One marker of Alzheimer’s disease are amyloid plaques. These plaques are extrac...
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...inoic acid is a possible way to decrease the oxidative stress levels in the brain.
Conclusion:
Retinoids can be used as a therapy to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamin A has an effect on many of the metabolic markers of Alzheimer’s disease. These include inflammation, oxidative stress, and amyloid β in the extracellular. Targeting the receptors for these processes may slow down or reverse Alzheimer’s disease.
The research into the effect Vitamin A has on Alzheimer’s disease needs to be furthered. One avenue to further it would be examining retinoic acids in vivo. This would allow the retinoid mechanisms of action and their receptors in Alzheimer’s disease to be better understood. Another method to further research would be to study the affect retinoic acid has on amyloid β in Alzheimer’s disease using different techniques, such as histopathological observation.
Think about it, an average teen in this world has just been diagnosed with a type of incurable dementia which will forever change his or her life. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the less common forms of dementia. It is when the nerve cells in the frontal lobe die and over time the brain tissue shrinks. Frontotemporal dementia is mostly found in people who are in their teens or twenties. It can affect young people in a very negative way. They start to get aggressive and as the disease gets worse they lose friends and have a difficult time in school and understanding things. Frontotemporal dementia is a rare disease that is on the rise and affects the people of the younger generation.
Although Alzheimer’s disease appears to be the most common cause of dementia, “more than 50 conditions are associated with dementia, including degenerative ...
Alzheimer’s disease is a complex illness that affects the brain tissue directly and undergoes gradual memory and behavioral changes which makes it difficult to diagnose. It is known to be the most common form of dementia and is irreversible. Over four million older Americans have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to triple in the next twenty years as more people live into their eighties and nineties. (Johnson, 1989). There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but throughout the past few years a lot of progress has been made.
Dementia is a significant health issue in Australia (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2012) (AIHW 2012). Whilst Dementia primarily affects older members of the community, it can also affect young people and has a significant influence on overall health and quality of life (AIHW 2012). The type of Dementia is a determinant in the severity and development of symptoms in individuals (Department of Health 2013) (DoH, 2013). The gradual, progressive and irreversible nature of Dementia has a considerable social and physical impact not only on the individual, but also on family and friends.
This paper is on dementia, a late-life disorder, as it pertains to the geriatric population. “It is estimated that 24.3 million people around the world have dementia and that, with an estimated 4.6 million new cases every year, we can expect about 43 million people and their families to have to handle the challenge of dementia by 2020.” (McNamera, 2011) I will cover three relevant points concerning this disorder that cause changes in the brain.
...t one has it. Many scientists hypothesize that there is an inflammatory response in the brain when there is an extensive B-42 amassing. To slow or stop this, scientists theorize that the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, could delay the swelling in the brain. Also, as scientists have known that taking a multi-vitamin tablet each day is good for you, there has been recent research demonstrating that the use of antioxidants may protect neurons, not just the immune system and keeping the body healthy by providing vitamins and minerals. These special supplements protect the neurons from the effects of the accruing B-Amyloid that would likely cause the plaque that causes AD.
In the field of Psychology you can find an abundance of mental disorders that can have an affect on people all throughout the world. Out of all the mental disorders that can be found around the world, some of them are more well-known and more widespread than others. The following disorders could be described as being well-known and widespread disorders: depression, bi-polar disorder, Alzheimer's, and OCD, which could also be called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. All of these mental disorders can be very dangerous and possibly deadly if people don't receive the proper care in order to be able to contain these disorders. Out of these very dangerous and possibly deadly disorders, I believe that Alzheimer's is the most interesting disorder. I think that Alzheimer's is the most interesting disorder, because I think we have the least about of knowledge of the Alzheimer's disorder. As a society we still to this day don't have a cure that totally stops this disorder.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most prevalent diseases in America and in the world at this point in time and the number of cases is only increasing. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s might include a decline in mental capacity, confusion, and forgetting how to do simple tasks. The disease in not limited to the older generation but is far more prevalent. There is no existing cure for Alzheimer’s and only a few medications that can mildly treat the disease but they vary from patient to patient and are not very affective. Many people are now trying to focus on preventing the disease in its early stages. Some ways in which people do this is by pairing a healthy diet with both cognitive and physical exercises.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, and this terminal, progressive brain disorder has no known cause or cure. Its greatest known risk factor is increasing age which is why is it is infamous for developing in the elderly, typically in ages 65 or over, however for the 5%(1) that develop Alzheimer’s in their 40s or 50s it is known as early Alzheimer’s. Because Alzheimer’s worsens over time, those with it tend to struggle with completing daily tasks especially elderly people. Given that there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, the treatments available slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. It is not known what causes Alzheimer's, however, those with Alzheimer's have been found to have abnormal amounts of protein (amyloid plaques) and fibres.(The amyloid plaques and fibres are found in regions of the brain where problem solving and thinking take place e.g The cerebrum.) Due to the unusual amounts of amyloid plaques and fibres, it reduces the effectiveness of healthy neurons and eventually, destroying them.
Alzheimer’s is a complex disorder, and it cannot be prevented yet. Researchers have discovered that there might be a possibility that it can be prevented or the symptoms can be delayed through a combination of healthful habits. Research being carried out by scientists, show hope that one day the development of Alzheimer’s disease can slowed down or cured. But essential steps can be taken to delay the arrival of Alzheimer’s. These include lifestyle interventions.
Having a group of senior citizens following you around for dinner most likely doesn’t sound like a fun night. However, working at a nursing home doesn’t feel like an actual job at all; I actually enjoy spending my nights at the Grand Residence. Not only has this job given me responsibility, but I also have built relationships with many residents. While spending my evenings at a nursing home throughout my high school career, I have come to the realization that I am comfortable and genuinely happy with pursuing a career in patient care in the foreseeable future.
A myth about Alzheimer disease says that nothing can be done about the disease. This is not true. Much can be done to assist the person with Alzheimer’s disease to maintain the highest possible level of functioning as long as possible and in providing the highest quality of life.
The elderly represents a large amount of the population in our society and continues to grow each day. As the population grows, it is important to meet the demands and resolve the challenges that we encounter in regards to the overall quality of health and well-being of the elderly. Mental health of the elderly is a major issue but majority of the time goes unnoticed and untreated by caregivers and loved ones. About 20 percent of adults 55 and older are suffering from some type of mental health disorder, and one in three elderly adults do not receive any type of treatment (The State of Mental Health, 2008). Those suffering from mental illness are hesitant to seek out help or any type of treatment because of the stigma, services and cost for care that then comes with mental health disorders. Mental health issues that affect elderly include dementia, delirium, and psychosis. Some of the most common conditions include anxiety, mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder and cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease. Mental health is essential to the
“Several transgenic mouse models of AD have been generated that exhibit age-related accumulation of Aβ without or with Tau pathology, and associated learning and memory deficits.” Mice with Aβ and Tau pathology that were subjected to intermittent fastening; results indicated that it can protect neurons against dysfunction. Other experiment results involving the “administration of alternate day fasting several months prior to Kaini acid suministration, the animal was more resistant to the degeneration; and learning and memory deficits where improved.” This type of fasting no only made the diseased animal resistant; but also improved it’s
Kamphuis, P. H., & Scheltens, P. (2010). Can nutrients prevent or delay onset of alzheimer's disease?. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 20(3), 765-775. doi:10.3233/JAD-2010-091558