Understanding Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s is present in over 40 million individuals worldwide, with over 5 million being in the United States. Various organizations and institutions, such as the G8, have begun referring to Alzheimer’s as an epidemic, and one who experts fear could affect over 100 million people by the 2020’s. As of today, Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and will only continue killing as the lifespan of U.S. citizens continues to rise. While many hopeful researchers are aiming to have a sound cure and or treatment for Alzheimer’s soon, the grim truth of the matter is that as of today millions are being plagued by this disease with no true curative treatments available. While the statistics may paint a picture

Though researchers have worked tirelessly to uncover the source of Alzheimer’s related dementia, its true cause is unknown. However, various studies have come to similar conclusions in understanding Alzheimer’s. Scientists have found that in Alzheimer’s afflicted individuals, there is a large build-up of proteins called amyloid and tau within brain cells. While these proteins are found in healthy individuals, it is the large amount in which scientist are worried. However, scientists do not yet know why these proteins occur in such large amounts. With this uncertainty also comes a clear connection, as more of these proteins form in brain cells, the more brain cells which lose their functionality and eventually die. What this results in is not only a decrease in overall brain activity but also a decrease in the brains actual

With advancements in technology, scientists are becoming much more aware of the molecular and genetic basis in which Alzheimer’s disease occurs. Scientists hope to construct “Drugs targeting the amyloidogenic pathway to modify the course of the (Alzheimer’s) disease” (Masters, 1998). Beta-amyloids are a type of protein, that when clumped together, form plaques. When these plaques create groups, normally between nerve cells, they are suspected of causing neural degeneracy. Scientists are actively investigating possible treatments with the purpose of: “blocking the activity of beta-secretase enzyme; preventing the beta-amyloid fragments from clumping into plaques, and even using antibodies against beta-amyloid to clear it from the brain.” There have already been several studies performed with the intention of using antibodies to decrease plaque buildup, and with various accounts displaying both successful and promising results. Clinical studies in 2014 found “monoclonal antibody selective for aggregated forms of Aβ (ie, soluble oligomers and insoluble fibrils), in patients with early Alzheimer's disease (ie, mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia) was associated with a dose-dependent decrease in amyloid uptake and a slower decline in cognition and global functioning” (Scheltens, 2016).