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.

1. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

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

4. TheProgressof
Alzheimer
disease

5. Alzheimer’s Disease
Progresses Through
Distinct Stages

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.

8. PLAQUE
FORMATION

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

12. NONPHARMACOLOGI
C
Cognitive enhancement
Individual and group therapy
Regular appointments
Communication with family,
caregivers
Environmental modification
Attention to safety

13. PHARMACOLO
GIC
Cholinesterase inhibitors: donepezil,
rivastigmine, galantamine
Other cognitive enhancers: estrogen,
NSAIDs, ginkgo biloba, vitamin E
Antidepressants
Antipsychotics

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

15. THANKYOU