Aluminium is present in the earth's crust in huge amount, mainly in the form of insoluble aluminium silicates. It is scarce in the human body which contain only 30-50 mg of that metal. This is due to the insolubility of aluminium, the presence of a barrier in the gastro-intestinal tract to soluble forms of aluminium, and the ability of the kidneys to excrete aluminium effectively in healthy people. Aluminium is present in food occurs in additives, tea which is rich in aluminium, and drinking water which is treated with aluminium to remove organic residues. Aluminium is also present in large amounts in medications such as antacids or compound aspirin products. Most of the aluminium in plasma is bound to the iron-transporting protein transferrin. Aluminium accumulates in areas of the brain with the highest concentration of transferrin receptors such as the cortex, hippocampus and amygdala; the same areas vulnerable to the development of Alzhiemer disease. The distribution of Aluminium in the brain reflects the neurones with the highest requirements for iron. The entry of aluminium into the brain mediated through transferrin. The issue of aluminium as cause for Alzheimer's disease has been contentious. In special circumstances such as renal failure and massive exposure to aluminium in certain occupations aluminium may cause brain pathology similar to Alzheimer Disease. However, there is no definite evidence of the role of this metal in the causation or development of Alzheimer disease. Some cases of Presenile Alzheimer disease (occurring before the age of 65) run in families and are associated with mutation in the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene implicated in Alzheimer Disease. Elderly cases of Alzheimer disease ... ... middle of paper ... ...lation between Alzheimer's disease and aluminium in drinking water: CN Martyn, C Osmond, JA Edwardson, DJP Barker… - The Lancet, 1989 Absence of aluminium in neuritic plaque cores in Alzheimer's disease : JP Landsberg, B McDonald… - 1992 - nature. Selective accumulation of aluminum and iron in the neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease: a laser microprobe (LAMMA) study : PF Good, DP Perl, LM Bierer… - Annals of [HTML] Metabolism and possible health effects of aluminum.from nih.gov PO Ganrot - Environmental Health Perspectives, 1986 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Brain-aluminium concentration in dialysis encephalopathy: JR McDermott, AI Smith, MK Ward, IS Parkinson… - The Lancet, 1978 - Elsevier Aluminium as a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease, with emphasis on drinking water: from anti-cancer.fr TP Flaten - Brain Research Bulletin, 2001 - Elsevier
Aluminum is the third most abundant element and most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust. Aluminum is never found in the free element state in nature. It
6) Kerr, D., Ward, M., Ellis, H., Simpson, W. Aluminum Intoxication in Renal Disease. CIBA-Found-Symposium, 169: 123-41 (1992).
Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed before age 65, although rare, and is caused by a mutation in 3 known genes. About 5 percent of those who are under 65 and possess the ailment have AD in their family history. Given that the symptoms of AD are caused by plaque in the brain, causing loss of nerve cells that help the body communicate with the brain, mutations to these genes; amyloid precursor protein, presenilin 1, and presenilin 2 cause a excessive production of certain proteins (primarily a B-42 form of amyloid protein), and therefore spark an excessive growth of plaque cells which are toxic to the neurons of the brain. For those cases of Alzheimer’s that occur after age 65, a genetic mutation has yet to be proven, although some may be linked, to the fact that a difference may cause an increased chance of developing the ailment. Whatever the case may be for patients over 65 years old, the disease and its symptoms are caused by neurofibrillary tangles of almyloid plaques. It is impossible for someone to test positive for Alzheimer’s Disease, because the only way to determine an affirmative case i...
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects cognitive function in the elderly population. The exact cause of the disease is unknown but may include genetic as well as environmental factors. A progression of specific neurological changes allows the progression of the disease. Short-term memory losses along with dementia are typical symptoms of the disease. A definite diagnosis of the disease currently can only be confirmed by an autopsy. The disease progresses in five stages that will vary with every patient. There is no current acceptable treatment to reverse or stop the progression of the disease.
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.
Cummings, Jeffrey L., Cole, Greg. “Alzheimer Disease.” Journal of the American Medical Association. May 2002: 287-18. Health Source. EBSCOhost. Utica College Lib. 15 Apr 2005. .
Aluminium is a chemical element which is a metal, it is lustrous, ductile and non magnetic. Aluminium is also the third most abundant element on earth and the most abundant element in the earths crust. It displaces iron and steel for uses which it is better suited for and is used in an alloy with other metals i.e. copper.
Thesis/Preview Statement – Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes a decline in brain function, it destroys healthy nerve cells. Today, we have discussed Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis of AD.
Alzheimer’s disease got its name from the German doctor, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, he noticed that there were abnormal clumps and bundles of fibers i...
Alzheimer’s disease was discovered in 1906 by German physician Alois Alzheimer. While studying the biopsy of the brain of a fifty-five year old woman who had suffered some type of severe dementia, he noticed some aberrations in her brain structure. The brain appeared shrunken, with enlarged crevasses in the gray matter. Over a century later, we now know that Alzheimer’s is caused by a mixture of chemical and cellular brain abnormalities and the breaking down of cells in the mind. Most of the defects occur in the cerebral cortex, which is the outer gray matter of the brain and the center of most human-like brain functions like memory, language, and thought.
Scientists know that Alzheimer disease is characterized by a gradual spread of sticky plaques and clumps of tangled fibers that disrupt the organization of nerve cells in the brain. However , a definite cause, prevention, or cause has not been found.
Aluminum is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. It has a concentration of about 8.2 percent (Craig et al 264). Aluminum “is malleable, ductile, and easily machined and cast; and has excellent corrosion resistance and durability” (http://minerals.usgs.gov/). It is evident in everyday life.
Alzheimer’s is marked by abnormal clumps, called senile plaques, and irregular knots, called neurofibrillary tangles, of brain cells. The plaque is an accumulation of an abnormal protein, amyloid. One theory regarding the cause of Alzheimer’s disease suggests that this plaque forms because the processes that normally operate to clear away this protein have become defective. Neurofibillary tangles are skeins of another abnormal protein, but the tangle is found inside the nerve cells. The reason why the tangles develop is not known, but the normal processing of protein by the cell seems to be disrupted. These tangles choke the nerve cells and prevent them for working properly. For reasons not well understood, these plaques and tangles take over healthy brain tissue, which devastates the areas of the brain associated with intellectual function.
A common finding is that amyloid, an insoluble fibrous cellular substance, is not processed correctly and a build up occurs. In individuals with AD, a higher amount of amyloid plaque is found in the brain than for someone following a normal aging process. An inflammatory response is activated which damages the nervous system. The plaque formation causes a chemical disruption that is believed to weaken the proteins that hold together microtubules, the organizational structures of neural cells. This disruption produces neurofibrillary tangles, leading to reduced cell division and neurotransmitter transport. A decrease of neurotransmitters is a trait common in patients with AD as many are important for memory development.2,
Alzheimer's disease (EA) is the most common dementia in the elderly. During the disease are developed "plaques" and "balls" in the structure of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells and consequent atrophy. It usually has an approximate mean duration of 10-12 years, although this can vary greatly from one patient to another. We too know that individuals with Alzheimer's have a lack of some chemicals in the brain. These substances are responsible for transmitting messages inside the brain. And a progressive disease, which means that more parts of the brain will be damaged gradually. As this happens, the symptoms begin to become more severe.