Squeezing The Brains Blood Supply
Reduced blood flow to the brain is one of the earliest changes seen as Alzheimers disease progresses. Its not due solely to plaque buildup in arteries, which is a common cause of dementia. Researchers at University College, London, have discovered a reason for restricted blood flow: Theyve shown that beta-amyloid can cause the cells surrounding capillariespericytesto contract and to squeeze the vessels, narrowing them. This may mean that one way in which beta-amyloid causes damage to neurons is by reducing their blood supply, starving them of oxygen and glucose. Targeting pericyte function could be a new therapeutic approach .
Is There Treatment Available
At present there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, one group of drugs called cholinergeric drugs appears to be providing some temporary improvement in cognitive functioning for some people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
Drugs can also be prescribed for secondary symptoms such as restlessness or depression or to help the person with dementia sleep better.
Community support is available for the person with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and carers. This support can make a positive difference to managing dementia. Dementia Australia provides support, information and counselling for people affected by dementia. Dementia Australia also aims to provide up-to-date information about drug treatments.
Further help
For more information contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
For a range of books and videos contact our Library.
For advice, common sense approaches and practical strategies on the issues most commonly raised about dementia, read our Help Sheets.
Social And Economic Impact
Dementia has significant social and economic implications in terms of direct medical and social care costs, and the costs of informal care. In 2015, the total global societal cost of dementia was estimated to be US$ 818 billion, equivalent to 1.1% of global gross domestic product . The total cost as a proportion of GDP varied from 0.2% in low- and middle-income countries to 1.4% in high-income countries.
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Midlife Alzheimers Blood Test Could Help Prove Future Predictions Wrong
In the study, 2,284 men and women with an average age of 59 were tracked for 25 years. Blood samples were analyzed at the start and then again in late life, when they were about 77. The participants did not have problems with memory or thinking skills at the outset.
Mental tests showed 502 and 832 went on to develop dementia and MCI, respectively.
The study, published in the journal Neurology, took into account age, education and cardiovascular risk factors.
As the brain engages in daily tasks, it continually produces and clears away amyloid beta, which can stop brain cells functioning properly. Some is washed into the blood, and some floats in the cerebrospinal fluid, which is why spinal taps are used. If the protein starts building up, it can collect into plaques that stick to neurons, triggering permanent damage.
They are composed mainly of amyloid beta 42, meaning it is probably being deposited in the brain before moving into the blood.
In the U.S., about 6 million people are currently living with Alzheimers. Its believed that number will balloon to 13 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimers Association. One recent study predicts that dementia cases worldwide will triple by that year.
South West News Service writer Mark Waghorn contributed to this report.
How Is Alzheimers Diagnosed And Treated
Doctors may ask questions about health, conduct cognitive tests, and carry out standard medical tests to determine whether to diagnose a person with Alzheimers disease. If a doctor thinks a person may have Alzheimers, they may refer the person to a specialist, such as a neurologist, for further assessment. Specialists may conduct additional tests, such as brain scans or lab tests of spinal fluid, to help make a diagnosis. These tests measure signs of the disease, such as changes in brain size or levels of certain proteins.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimers, though there are several medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that can help manage some symptoms of the disease along with coping strategies to manage behavioral symptoms. In 2021, FDA provided accelerated approval for a new medication, aducanumab, that targets the protein beta-amyloid, which accumulates abnormally in the brains of people with Alzheimers. The new medication helps to reduce amyloid deposits, but has not yet been shown to affect clinical symptoms or outcomes, such as progression of cognitive decline or dementia.
Most medicines work best for people in the early or middle stages of Alzheimers. Researchers are exploring other drug therapies and nondrug interventions to delay or prevent the disease as well as treat its symptoms.
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Medications To Maintain Mental Function In Alzheimer’s Disease
Several medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat symptoms of Alzheimers. Donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine are used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimers. Donepezil, memantine, the rivastigmine patch, and a combination medication of memantine and donepezil are used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimers symptoms. All of these drugs work by regulating neurotransmitters, the chemicals that transmit messages between neurons. They may help reduce symptoms and help with certain behavioral problems. However, these drugs dont change the underlying disease process. They are effective for some but not all people and may help only for a limited time.
How Does Alzheimer’s Disease Progress
The rate of progression of the disease varies from person to person.
However, the disease does lead eventually to complete dependence and finally death, usually from another illness such as pneumonia. A person may live from three to twenty years with Alzheimer’s disease, with the average being seven to ten years.
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What Is The Burden Of Alzheimers Disease In The United States
- Alzheimers disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States.2
- The 6th leading cause of death among US adults.
- The 5th leading cause of death among adults aged 65 years or older.3
In 2020, an estimated 5.8 million Americans aged 65 years or older had Alzheimers disease.1 This number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060.1
In 2010, the costs of treating Alzheimers disease were projected to fall between $159 and $215 billion.4 By 2040, these costs are projected to jump to between $379 and more than $500 billion annually.4
Death rates for Alzheimers disease are increasing, unlike heart disease and cancer death rates that are on the decline.5 Dementia, including Alzheimers disease, has been shown to be under-reported in death certificates and therefore the proportion of older people who die from Alzheimers may be considerably higher.6
Aging
What Causes Alzheimer Disease
Lots of research is being done to find out more about the causes of Alzheimer disease. There is no one reason why people get it. Older people are more likely to get it, and the risk increases the older the person gets. In other words, an 85-year-old is more likely to get it than a 65-year-old. And women are more likely to get it than men.
Researchers also think genes handed down from family members can make a person more likely to get Alzheimer disease. But that doesn’t mean everyone related to someone who has it will get the disease. Other things may make it more likely that someone will get the disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Down syndrome, or having a head injury.
On the positive side, researchers believe exercise, a healthy diet, and taking steps to keep your mind active may help delay the start of Alzheimer disease.
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Characterization Of Densely Aligned Cnt Sensor Array
Fig. 2: Characterization of densely aligned CNT sensor array.
a SEM and b AFM images of densely aligned CNT film. The scale bars in SEM and AFM images indicate 250nm and 500nm, respectively. c Polarized Raman spectra of the densely aligned CNT film recorded at various angles between 633nm incident laser and an alignment direction of CNT film. The inset shows the angular dependence of the Raman intensity at 1595cm1. The blue solid line fits cos2 function. d Sensing performance of densely aligned CNT device in comparison with random-network CNT devices that have similar CNT densities. The densities of densely aligned and random-network CNT samples were 345 and 339 CNTsm1, respectively. For each data point, a different set of devices were used. Data reproducibility was confirmed by two additional experiments. All reported values represent the mean±SD. e The values of coefficient of variation of resistance change in the densely aligned and random-network CNT device array. The CV of densely aligned device array was approximately six times lower than that in random-network CNT device array. Source data are provided as a file.
How Does Alzheimer’s Disease Affect The Brain
Scientists continue to unravel the complex brain changes involved in Alzheimers disease. Changes in the brain may begin a decade or more before symptoms appear. During this very early stage of Alzheimers, toxic changes are taking place in the brain, including abnormal buildups of proteins that form amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Previously healthy neurons stop functioning, lose connections with other neurons, and die. Many other complex brain changes are thought to play a role in Alzheimers as well.
The damage initially appears to take place in the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex, which are parts of the brain that are essential in forming memories. As more neurons die, additional parts of the brain are affected and begin to shrink. By the final stage of Alzheimers, damage is widespread and brain tissue has shrunk significantly.
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What Are The Warning Signs Of Alzheimers Disease
Watch this video play circle solid iconMemory Loss is Not a Normal Part of Aging
Alzheimers disease is not a normal part of aging. Memory problems are typically one of the first warning signs of Alzheimers disease and related dementias.
In addition to memory problems, someone with symptoms of Alzheimers disease may experience one or more of the following:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as getting lost in a familiar place or repeating questions.
- Trouble handling money and paying bills.
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.
- Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them.
- Changes in mood, personality, or behavior.
Even if you or someone you know has several or even most of these signs, it doesnt mean its Alzheimers disease. Know the 10 warning signs .
How Is Alzheimers Disease Treated
Alzheimers is complex, and it is therefore unlikely that any one drug or other intervention will successfully treat it in all people living with the disease.
Scientists are exploring many avenues to delay or prevent the disease as well as to treat its symptoms. In ongoing clinical trials, scientists are developing and testing several possible interventions. Under study are drug therapies aimed at a variety of disease interventions, as well as nondrug approaches such as physical activity, diet, cognitive training, and combinations of these. Just as we have many treatments for heart disease and cancer, we will likely need many options for treating Alzheimers. Precision medicine getting the right treatment to the right person at the right time will likely play a major role.
Current approaches to treating Alzheimers focus on helping people maintain mental function, treating the underlying disease process, and managing behavioral symptoms.
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What Causes Alzheimers Disease
In recent years, scientists have made tremendous progress in better understanding Alzheimers and the momentum continues to grow. Still, scientists dont yet fully understand what causes Alzheimers disease in most people. In people with early-onset Alzheimers, a genetic mutation may be the cause. Late-onset Alzheimers arises from a complex series of brain changes that may occur over decades. The causes probably include a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The importance of any one of these factors in increasing or decreasing the risk of developing Alzheimers may differ from person to person.
Preparation Of Densely Aligned Cnt Film
We suspended 2.5mg of CNT and 2.5mg of PmPV into 25ml of dichloroethane and sonicated the suspension for 1h using horn sonicator at 70% amplitude. After centrifugation at 31,664×g for 1h, the supernatant was filtered several times through Teflon filter paper , followed by re-dispersion in clean DCE. We diluted the final suspension to 1/6 and sonicated the solution for 10min before use. Afterwards, we filled deionized water into the LB deposition trough and dropped 800L of CNT solution on the surface of the water. After evaporation of the solvent for 10min, we repeated the compressionexpand cycles with a rate of 15mmmin1. Afterwards, the floated CNTs were transferred to SiO2 /Si substrate by pulling up the substrate at a rate of 2mmmin1. The random-network CNT film was fabricated using the spin coating method at 1000r.p.m. The as-prepared CNT film was annealed at 550°C for 1.5h to remove PmPV moieties on the CNTs.
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A Drug To Improve Neural Function
The Tetra PICASSO Alzheimers Disease Trial wants to harness the brains natural mechanisms for supporting memory, to improve functioning in the presence of amyloid buildup. Under the direction of Scott Reines, MD, Tetra Discovery Partners will evaluate the drug BPN14770 at multiple locations in the US. The hope is that the drug will be able to increase levels of the messenger molecule cAMP in the brain, which will then support neuronal function and memory.
Early Symptoms Of Dementia
Although the early signs vary, common early symptoms of dementia include:
- memory problems, particularly remembering recent events
- increasing confusion
- apathy and withdrawal or depression
- loss of ability to do everyday tasks.
Sometimes, people fail to recognise that these symptoms indicate that something is wrong. They may mistakenly assume that such behaviour is a normal part of the ageing process. Symptoms may also develop gradually and go unnoticed for a long time. Also, some people may refuse to act, even when they know something is wrong.
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Medical And Family History
Many risk factors can contribute to the likelihood that a person develops Alzheimers. To assess these, a physician will want to know about an individuals history of medical conditions, lifestyle variables such as smoking and alcohol consumption, and medications.
Family history also will be assessed for relatives with Alzheimers or other forms of dementia. Although Alzheimers does not yet have a known genetic cause, having relatives with the disorder raises ones own likelihood of developing it, as certain genes are known to increase the risk of developing the disease.
Preparation Of Biomarkers And Procedure Of Biomarker Sensing
We dissolved A42 and A40 in 480L of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol and kept them overnight at room temperature. The solution was dispensed into Protein Lobind tube and vacuum-dried for 2h. We dissolved human tau and synthetic p-tau181 in the deionized water. The solutions were aliquoted and stored at 20°C for further experiments. We prepared biomarkers of femtomolar to picomolar concentrations by serially diluting the stock solution of each biomarker using a PBS solution . The stock concentration of each biomarker was 100gmL1. We quantified the concentrations of biomarkers using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . We applied each biomarker to the bioreceptor-immobilized CNT device and incubated them for 15min at the room temperature. For detecting of AD biomarker in human plasma, the blood plasma was diluted into 1/10. The resistance of the sensor chip was measured using a digital multimeter .
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Life Expectancy For Other Forms Of Dementia
Although Alzheimers disease is our focus here, a discussion of survival should consider other dementias as well. Survival after a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia is significantly shorter than survival after a diagnosis of Alzheimers disease. Survival lengths after a diagnosis of vascular dementia or frontotemporal dementia are intermediate. Compared to dementia, a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment is associated with a smaller reduction in life expectancy, and in many cases does not lead to Alzheimers disease and dementia.
Resources:
- Garre-Olmo J, Ponjoan A, Inoriza JM, et al. Survival, effect measures, and impact numbers after dementia diagnosis: a matched cohort study. Clinical Epidemiology 2019;11:525-42.
- Tom SE, Hubbard RA, Crane PK, et al. Characterization of dementia and Alzheimers disease in an older population: Updated incidence and life expectancy with and without dementia. Am J Public Health 2015;105:408-13.
- Strand BH, Knapskog A-B, Persson K, et al. Survival and years of life lost in various aetiologies of dementia, mild cognitive impairment and subjective cognitive decline in Norway . PLOS ONE 2018;13:e204436.
Disease:
Researchers Find New Hints That Could Explain How Alzheimer’s Disease Spreads In Human Brains
by Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University researchers studying prionsmisfolded proteins that cause lethal incurable diseaseshave identified for the first time surface features of human prions responsible for their replication in the brain.
The ultimate goal of the research is to help design a strategy to stop prion disease in humansand, ultimately, to translate new approaches to work on Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists have yet to discover the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease, but largely agree that protein issues play a role in its emergence and progression. Alzheimer’s disease afflicts more than 6 million people in the U.S., and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that their care will cost an estimated $355 billion this year.
Research was done at the Safar Laboratory in the Department of Pathology and the Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and at Case Western Reserve’s Center for Synchrotron Bioscience at Brookhaven Laboratories in New York. Jiri Safar, professor of pathology, neurology and neurosciences at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, leads the work. The report, “Structurally distinct external domains drive replication of major human prions,” was published in the June 17 issue of PLOS Pathogens.
The researchers developed a new three-step process to study human prions:
Explore further
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Potential Causes Of Alzheimers Disease And Related Health Concerns
Most cases of Alzheimers disease are believed to be caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Less than 1 percent of cases are exclusively genetic and arent affected by lifestyle. There appear to be multiple biological processes that can go wrong in the brain in Alzheimers disease, meaning that the cause of the disease may vary from person to person.
What defines Alzheimers disease and distinguishes it from other causes of dementia are two abnormal structuresplaque containing beta-amyloid and tangles containing a protein called tau. In addition, the brain of a person with advanced Alzheimers is atrophiedit has shrunk due to the death of neuronsand it contains dying neurons and debris from dead neurons, as well as signs of inflammation .
What Causes Dementia?
Lifestyle Intervention For Cognition
FINGER was the first large long-term controlled trial to show that lifestyle intervention can improve cognition. People at risk of developing dementia underwent a program addressing nutrition, physical activity, and cognitive training. They also improved cardiovascular health through management of high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. After two years, the intervention group scored significantly better than the control group on a battery of tests.
The nutrition intervention was not difficultjust standard recommendations, such as eating more vegetables and fruits. Physiotherapists led sessions focusing on muscle strength and aerobic activities. Group discussions and computer training modules focused on memory and mental speed. This trial did not include people with Alzheimers disease, but participants were chosen because they were judged to have a higher than average risk of dementia. Other lifestyle intervention trials have not demonstrated benefits for cognition, perhaps because the participants were too healthy to benefit.
Overall, the FINGER trial has provided evidence that the usual lifestyle suspects are important for maintaining brain function as we age .
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What Is Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimers disease is the most common type of irreversible dementia . Nearly 7 out of 10 people with dementia have the Alzheimers type.
While Alzheimers disease affects up to 1 in 10 Australians over 65 years of age, and up to 3 in 10 Australians over 85, it is not a normal part of ageing.
The brain contains millions of brain cells that organise how the brain stores memories, learns habits and shapes our personality. Signals pass along the connections between brain cells in the form of chemicals called neurotransmitters. Alzheimers disease affects these cells and chemicals, disturbing memory, impairing thinking and causing behaviour changes over time. People with Alzheimers disease eventually need long-term care and support.
There are 2 main types of Alzheimers disease:
- Sporadic Alzheimers is the most common form and usually occurs after age 65. Its cause is not fully understood.
- Familial Alzheimers is caused by a very rare genetic condition and results in dementia, usually in people in their 40s and 50s. This is known as younger onset dementia.
What To Do If You Suspect Alzheimers Disease
Getting checked by your healthcare provider can help determine if the symptoms you are experiencing are related to Alzheimers disease, or a more treatable conditions such as a vitamin deficiency or a side effect from medication. Early and accurate diagnosis also provides opportunities for you and your family to consider financial planning, develop advance directives, enroll in clinical trials, and anticipate care needs.
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I Dont Need To Worry About Alzheimers Because No One In My Family Has It
You may think that Alzheimers disease doesnt have a genetic component. This is wrong at two levels, says Hermona Soreq, PhD, a neuroscientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalems Edmund and Lily Safra Center for Brain Science. First, some people do inherit single mutations that cause this disease, although those are rare; and second, others develop it due to many small inherited risks, which work together with an unhealthy lifestyle to induce this disease.
However, you can also develop the disease even if no other family member you know has it. Were all at risk for Alzheimers, says Kenneth S. Kosik, MD, and author of Outsmarting Alzheimers. We all have a 50 per cent chance of developing Alzheimers disease after age 85. Most people diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimers disease do not test positive as carriers for any of the known Alzheimers genes.
If you have these types of dreams, you could be at risk for dementia.
Common Forms Of Dementia
There are many different forms of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form and may contribute to 6070% of cases. Other major forms include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies , and a group of diseases that contribute to frontotemporal dementia . The boundaries between different forms of dementia are indistinct and mixed forms often co-exist.
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Alzheimers And Dementia Are Two Separate Things
Although some people might not use the terms interchangeably, Alzheimers disease and dementia are basically the same. You may hear people explaining that their loved one has both Alzheimers and dementia, when in fact, Alzheimers is under the umbrella of dementia, explains Phoebe James, the director of resident engagement at Wentworth Senior Living. They are not two separate things. There are over 100 different forms of dementia, each type comes with a variety of different symptoms.
Ps1 And Ps2 Mutations
Approximately 50-70% of early-onset autosomal-dominant AD cases appear to be associated with a locus mapped by genetic linkage to the long arm of chromosome 14 . Numerous missense mutations have been identified on a strong candidate gene, called PS1.
At the same time, another autosomal dominant locus responsible for early-onset AD was localized to chromosome 1. Two mutations were identified on the candidate gene, designated PS2. The physiological role of presenilins and the pathogenic effects of their mutations are not yet well understood.
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