Alzheimer's Disease {+rep}

[Cath]

Do you want statistics and personal experiences (the stuff you sell to the public);
the stuff that's already been said,

or pathologic/genetics + symptoms?

Honestly, anything will help. I already have most symptoms, but pathologic/genetics would definitly help. <3

[Mod]

A brief comparison between AD and normal aging:

AD:

-Forget entire experiences (vs. parts of one)
-Rarely remembers later
-Can't follow spoken or written directions over time
-Notes become useless over time as reminders
-Eventually dependent on others in life

(vice-versa for regular aging)

---

-E4 allele of ApoE-4 protein greatly increases risk of AD, especially being homozygous for it.
(but not 100%, full effects still unknown - it's just a noted correlation)

-Physiologically, known to be caused by buildup of beta-amyloid protein in extracelluar space of the cortex and hippocampus.
(since the hippocampus is critical for memory and behaviour; particularly working memory, there you go).
(hippocampal overactivity is associated with schizophrenia, but that's another story, )

---

No cure, treatment only slows progression:

-Cholinesterase inhibitors slightly increase cognition, by slowing the breakdown of acetylcholine
-Memantine, glutamate regulator

-Exercise mildly helps; increases neuron firing temporarily and NT release associated with the activity.
It's like endorphin release, though I don't really know the specifics of exercise therapy vs. AD, or if endorphins are even involved here, so maybe/maybe not put it down.

And that is all I remember for now.
SCHOOL'S OUT, BITCHES!

[Cath]

A brief comparison between AD and normal aging:

AD:

-Forget entire experiences (vs. parts of one)
-Rarely remembers later
-Can't follow spoken or written directions over time
-Notes become useless over time as reminders
-Eventually dependent on others in life

(vice-versa for regular aging)

---

-E4 allele of ApoE-4 protein greatly increases risk of AD, especially being homozygous for it.
(but not 100%, full effects still unknown - it's just a noted correlation)

-Physiologically, known to be caused by buildup of beta-amyloid protein in extracelluar space of the cortex and hippocampus.
(since the hippocampus is critical for memory and behaviour; particularly working memory, there you go).
(hippocampal overactivity is associated with schizophrenia, but that's another story, )

---

No cure, treatment only slows progression:

-Cholinesterase inhibitors slightly increase cognition, by slowing the breakdown of acetylcholine
-Memantine, glutamate regulator

-Exercise mildly helps; increases neuron firing temporarily and NT release associated with the activity.
It's like endorphin release, though I don't really know the specifics of exercise therapy vs. AD, or if endorphins are even involved here, so maybe/maybe not put it down.

And that is all I remember for now.
SCHOOL'S OUT, BITCHES!

This will help me a bunch!
Thank you, as always. <3

I really can't wait to be done with that speech

[Daenery]

My best friends' grandmother is suffering from Alzheimer's right now. My friend and I grew up together so her gran seems to remember me at times, but other times she'll look at me as if I'm a total stranger. She'll ask me how I'm doing in HS (when I'm in college already) and then within five minutes she'll ask me the exact same thing again, sometimes three to five times in a row. I don't show it out of consideration but it definitely saddens me when I remember how lively and active she was just a few years ago. I can see how much it stresses out my friends' mom, too.

I doubt I can add any facts that the others haven't already, but I just felt like sharing. Good luck with your presentation! Speeches are always so nerve-wracking, but I'm sure you'll do amazingly.

[simmie]

PM'ed you everything I know. |3

[Pestix]

My best friends grandmother had this, she died from it.. very very sad disease to watch someone you love suffer from

Its very similar to huntingtons disease which my ex boyfriends dad suffered from except that disease was like having alzeimers as well as parkinsons

[Batgirl]

I'm just creeping, but those are some pretty interesting facts.
Number 6 cause of death? @_@ I didn't know that.
I thought Alzheimer's just caused loss of memory, I didn't know it could lead to death.

Watch the Notebook, then you'll see.

/yay chick flick

[Cath]

Thanks a lot guys for helping me with infos & sharing what has happened around you.
This definitely will help me a bunch and I really appreciate your help everyone <3

& By the way, I can't give rep until tomorrow, so sorry for the ones I haven't repped already!
Thanks again