Based on the fact that Alzheimer’s disease is one of the deadliest diseases ever scientists are working at the extreme to find a cure for it. In addition, according to scientific results, the rate of Alzheimer’s disease occurring in humans is increasing by the day. Further, this disease is so deadly that it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and more than five million people in America are living with the disease (Alz.org). Also, “in 2012, 15.4 million caregivers provided more than 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $216 billion” (Alz.org). But there are some ways a person can prevent or reduce the risk of getting the deadly disease.
The first way of reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease is by drinking caffeinated coffee every day because caffeinated coffee has a mystery ingredient in it that boosts protection against the disease. The mystery ingredient is GCSF, a growth factor that increases in blood levels by caffeinated coffee. In addition, “GCSF is a substance greatly decreased in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and demonstrated to improve memory in Alzheimer’s mice.” Also, USF neuroscientist Dr. Chuanhai Cao said “the exact way that (increase in GCSF increase occurs when someone drinks caffeinated coffee) is not understood. There is synergistic interaction between caffeine and some mystery component of coffee that provides this beneficial increase in blood GCSF levels” (Cao). Furthermore, the scientists figured out three ways that GCSF seems to improve memory performance in the Alzheimer’s mice. Firstly, GCSF recruits stem cells from bone marrow to enter the brain and remove the harmful beta-amyloid protein that creates the disease. GCSF also creates new connections between brain cells and...
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...protective Effects of Green and Black Teas and Their Catechin Gallate Esters against β-amyloid-induced Toxicity." Neuroprotective Effects of Green and Black Teas and Their Catechin Gallate Esters against β-amyloid-induced Toxicity 23 (2006): 55-64. Print.
Cao, Chuanhai. University of South Florida (USF Health). "Mystery ingredient in coffee boosts protection against Alzheimer's disease, study finds." ScienceDaily, 28 Jun. 2011. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
Gray, Nathan. "Green Tea EGCG May Help Prevent Plaque Formation in Alzheimer's disease." Nutraingredients.com. N.p., 6 Mar. 2013. Web. 29 Dec. 2013.
Hendrick, Bill. "Green Tea May Help Prevent Alzheimer's disease." Webmd.com. N.p., 6 Jan. 2011. Web. 5 Jan. 2014.
"Latest Facts & Figures Report | Alzheimer's Association." Latest Facts & Figures Report | Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's Association, n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2013.
The Alzheimer’s Association (2005) defines the disease as “a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate, and carry out daily activities”. Contrary to popular belief, Alzheimer’s is not the result of normal aging, although it normally occurs more frequently in people who are over the age of 65 (Gruetzner, 1988). Studies performed on the brains of deceased Alzheimer’s patients show several irregularities. The most obvious abnormality is in the signal-transmitting chemicals, where a 40-90% decrease in the enzyme CAT is found. This enzyme lies in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus regions of the brain. When CAT is decreased, it causes cholinergic or acetylcholine-releasing nerve terminals to diminish. These chemicals are important for communication between nerves. Also found during these autopsies were double strands of neurofibullary tangles, senile plaque (decayed neural material), and granulovacular degeneration-all which are associated with mental impairment. Neurofibullary tangles normally do increase with age, but Alzheimer’s patients show a very high density of the tangles. The brain has also been found to contain abnormally high concentrations of aluminum (Weiner, 1987).
Oken, Barry S. 1999, The efficacy of Ginkgo biloba on cognitive function in Alzheimer disease. Journal of American Medical Association 281(5): 402.
3069 individuals aged 75 years or older with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment were assessed every 6 months with a median follow-up of 6 years. Dekosky et al. (2008; see also Snitz, O’Meara, Carlson, Arnold, Ives, Rapp, Saxton, Lopez, Dunn, Sink & DeKosky, 2009) concluded that Ginkgo at a dosage of 120 mg twice per day was ineffective in reducing either the overall occurrence rate of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease incidence in elderly individuals with normal cognition or with mild cognitive impairment. Ginkgo and placebo did not differ, and therefore, Ginkgo Biloba extract is not effective in preventing or delaying the onset of all-cause dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in elderly people. These studies could not demonstrate any evidence of the effectiveness of Ginkgo Biloba neither on cognitive change nor on specific cognitive domains of memory.
Memory plays a significant role in the everyday lives of people of all ages. It allows them to recall information and remember skills that were learned in the past. Memory also organizes past information to help people make current and future decisions. However, imagine forgetting the names of close family members or not having the ability to find your keys every time you want to leave the house. These are some of the struggles that people with Alzheimer’s disease face daily. Alzheimer’s disease was first identified by German neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906, and was discovered to have an overpowering effect on explicit memory loss (Gruetzner, 1988). There are two types of Alzheimer’s disease – early onset and late onset. Early onset occurs in patients who are diagnosed before the age of 65 whereas late onset occurs in patients who are diagnosed after the age of 65. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, short-term memory is often lost. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, problems with long-term memory begin to develop, in addition to short-term memory impairments. Although a lot is known about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, the cause has not been conclusively identified. However, as research continues, new theories about the cause of Alzheimer’s disease are being proposed. This has led to a controversy over whether Alzheimer’s disease is caused by genetics or environmental influences (Gruetzner, 1988).
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.
Alzheimer’s is a disease that many people have heard of, but few really know much about. Imagine not being able to remember your loved ones and friends or even how to do simple tasks like dressing yourself and brushing your hair. Now imagine having to dress your mother, who rarely remembers you anymore. This is the reality of life for millions of older people afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and the families that care for them. Alzheimer’s causes cognitive function to decrease gradually overtime. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia - affecting around 5 million Americans (alz.org). It is the most fatal disease affecting older people and needs to be taken seriously.
In the modern age scientists and researchers are constantly discovering new diseases and disorders that affect the human body. With technology improving and new equipment being introduced it enables scientists to gain more knowledge about the disorders than ever before. During the last century a German physician by the name of Alois Alzheimer linked a patient’s memory loss to her brain autopsy which displayed signs of brain shrinkage. His discovery is now known today as Alzheimer’s disease; which is a form of dementia and is a psychological disease that causes the brain to deteriorate. In today’s day and age, there are still many unanswered questions about Alzheimer’s disease (Crider, A., Goethals, G., Kavanough, R., & Solomon, P. 1989). A few known facts are that Alzheimer’s disease is it is most commonly found in elderly humans, with majority of carriers being age 60 or older. It is important to note that Alzheimer’s disease is not an old person’s disease and that it can also be found in adults of younger ages. Furthermore, there are two forms of Alzheimer’s disease. The two forms are called Early-onset which is found in adults ages 30-59 and Late-Onset which is more common and occurs in adults ages 60 and up. Alzheimer’s disease may not be curable, however with the right information it can be easy to conquer (Alzheimer and Dementia Resources).
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of death in America and there are currently more than five million people living with the disease (Alzheimer’s Association, 2014). What may be most troubling about these numbers is the fact that Alzheimer’s disease has no current cure. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurocognitive disorder and a common form of dementia that will affects a person’s memory, way of thinking and their behavior (Alzheimer’s Association, 2014). AD typically develops slowly and the more time a person has the disease the worse the symptoms will become. AD in its later stages becomes so severe that people with the disease cannot even do simple daily tasks. Although there is no cure there are still ways to prevent, delay, and possibly treat the disease.
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.
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. .
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.
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.
Great amounts of research and studies are going into dementia, but as seen by the various different approaches taken, it is a difficult matter, to try and prevent. There are some positive results that have potential to help prevent dementia, such as the medication that reduces the chance of getting a stroke and the use of antioxidants and fish oil to help nourish and keep the cells of the body strong.
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
Suzuki, Y., Miyoshi, N., & Isemura, M. (2012). Health-promoting effects of green tea. Proceedings of the Japan Academy, 88(3), 88-101.