Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to degenerate and die. It is the most common cause of dementia — a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that disrupts a person's ability to function independently.
AD is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and it is clinically defined by a slowly progressing loss of cognitive functions, primarily memory impairment.
2. INTRODUCTION
Alzheimer's disease is a
progressive disorder that causes brain cells to
degenerate and die. It is the most common
cause of dementia — a continuous decline in
thinking, behavioral and social skills that
disrupts a person's ability to function
independently.
AD is the most common neurodegenerative
disorder and it is clinically defined by a slowly
progressing loss of cognitive functions, primarily
memory impairment.
3. Prevalenceand
ImpactofAD
AD is the most common cause of
dementia in people 65 years and older
Affects 10% of people over the age of 65
and 50% of people over the age of 85
Annual treatment costs = $100 billion
AD is the fourth leading cause of death
The overwhelming majority of patients
live at home and are cared for by family
and friends
6. PathologyOfAD
There are 3 consistent neuropathological
hallmarks:
–Amyloid-rich senile plaques
–Neurofibrillary tangles
–Neuronal degeneration
These changes eventually lead to clinical
symptoms, but they begin years before the
onset of symptoms
7. BETA-amyloid
Plaques
Plaques form when protein pieces
called beta-amyloid clump together. Beta-
amyloid comes from a larger protein found
in the fatty membrane surrounding nerve
cells. Beta-amyloid is chemically "sticky"
and gradually builds up into plaques.
9. Neurofibrillary
Tangles
Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are
aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau
protein that are most commonly known as
a primary marker of Alzheimer's disease.
Their presence is also found in numerous
other diseases known as tauopathies.
10. Cholinergic
Hypothesis
Acetylcholine (ACh) is an
important neurotransmitter in
areas of the brain involved in
memory formation
Loss of Ach activity correlates
with the severity of AD
11. TREATMENT
Primary goals: to enhance quality of
life & maximize functional
performance by improving
cognition, mood, and behavior
–Nonpharmacologic
–Pharmacologic
14. Acetylcholines
terase
Inhibitors
Drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease act by
inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity
These drugs block the esterase-mediated
metabolism of acetylcholine to choline and
acetate. This results in:
–Increased acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft
–Increased availability of acetylcholine for
postsynaptic and presynaptic nicotinic (and
muscarinic) acetylcholine receptors
The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Folstein test is a 30-point questionnaire that is used extensively in clinical and research settings to measure cognitive impairment