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Breakthrough in Alzheimer's
Report:
Breakthrough in Alzheimer's
Shazia Kalam
Period 6
4/24/11
Statistics show that by the year 2050 over 100 million individuals will develop Alzheimer's (Springer 2009, 8). Despite advances in medical technology and research, a cure for Alzheimer's disease has yet to be found. With the help of stem cells and skin cells, however, researchers have found a potential way to reverse the symptoms and damage caused by the disease.
Alzheimer’s disease, also known as AD, poses as a fatal condition to be diagnosed with because it affects one of the most important parts of the body: the brain. It all began in 1901, when a German physician, named Dr. Alois Alzheimer, examined a fifty-one year old patient, Auguste D., who was suffering from some kind of mental illness (Springer 2009, 6). When Alois moved to medical school in 1903, he worked with psychiatrist, Emil Kraepelin, who later named the disease after his partner. Today Alzheimer’s disease affects about 5.3 million Americans, 5.1 million who are over the age of sixty-five and the other two hundred thousand under sixty-five(Unknown 2010, 1). Studies have suggested that more women are affected by the disease than men. It is considered one of the most common, yet deadly form of dementia, which refers to the loss of brain function with certain diseases, because as time progresses, the symptoms become more severe. Although memory loss is a part of aging, it is also one of the warning signs of AD. Other important signs include: challenges in planning or solving problematic situations, struggling to undertake everyday tasks, losing track of passing time, vision problems, trouble with speaking and vocabulary, misplacing objects, poor judgment, distancing from hobbies and social activities, and changes in mood and personality. These symptoms develop in stages, in which at first the individual is normal, and then slowly gets worse. These stages include: no impairment, very mild decline, mild decline, moderate decline, moderately severe decline, severe decline and very severe decline(Springer 2009, 11). The first stage, the patient is normal and functions like any other healthy human being. In the second stage, the individual may be forgetting familiar items. This is the earliest sign of AD, and many people do not notice because it has to do with old age. In the third stage however, someone can detect the individual’s lack of memory and attention. During the fourth stage, the patient may experience trouble performing tasks and mood swings. In stage five, memory begins to worsen, and the person needs to be assisted with daily activities. In stage six, personality changes may occur, the individual constantly needs help, and may begin to wander and become lost. During the last and most severe stage, the patient has trouble balancing, responding to their surroundings, speaking, eating, and swallowing. Because Alzheimer patients are in need of constant attention, it is estimated that the total cost of health and care payments are about one hundred seventy- two billion dollars.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain complication in which, brain cells as well as connection to other cells in the brain is lost (Morris 2008, 2). The cause of AD is unknown, but physicians believe that it is a result of not only one, but many factors. Very rarely is Alzheimer’s disease genetically inherited to an individual. However when AD does affects an individual under sixty, it is called “younger-onset Alzheimer’s”(Morris 2008, 7). There is also no scientific proof on how Alzheimer’s disease kills brain cells. Some researchers believe that the cause is because of holes in the cell membrane. They concluded that the holes were created by spikes in electrical currents on the cell membrane when the protein, amyloid-beta peptide, is present. In result, the amyloid peptides release a flow of calcium, causing ions to become imbalanced and cells to die(Blanchard 2009, 1). Another theory on how brain cells are lost in AD is amyloid and extracellular plaques around the neurons in the brain. The plaques are made up of aluminium silicate and amyloid peptides, causing a toxic buildup to the neurons. The result is cell death(Springer 2009, 12). A neurofibrillary tangle could be a third suggestion to the loss of brain cells. During a neurofibrillary tangle, paired filaments made of a mutated protein are found in the cortex, hippocampus and the cytoplasm of nerve cells in the brain. Because the microtubules transport materials to nerve cells the mutated protein, called tau, causes the microtubules to become destroyed(Springer 2009, 13). As for individuals who carry the Alzheimer gene, gene apoE4, is said to be the only genetic link to AD. Located on chromosome nineteen, apoE4 can implicate AD by aiding in my formation of amyloid plaques(Springer 2009, . Japanese and Caucasian people with two apoE4 genes are more likely to develop AD by the time they are 25(Springer 2009, 15). Unfortunately, a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease has not been successful. Many doctors fail to recognize the disease because of the lack of information about AD, medical tools, and time.
There is currently no cure that can fully treat Alzheimer’s disease. However medications prescribed by doctors can decrease the symptoms(Unknown 2010, 3). These prescription drugs include Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne, Cognex, and Namenda. Although these drugs cannot fix the damage of the brain cells, they can lessen the symptoms by using chemicals that aid in sending messages to that brain’s nerve cells. However, these medications are not affective if not taken responsibly, because they only work for a certain amount of time. There are also a variety of herbal vitamins and supplements that an individual can take to enhance memory and other symptoms. However these treatments are not approved by the FDA, meaning the purity and safety of the substance could be dangerous to users. Some examples are Coenzyme Q10, Coral calcium, Ginkgo biloba, Huperzine A, Omega-3 fatty acids, Phosphatidylserine, and Tramiprosate. Coenzyme Q10 could be effective to Alzheimer’s patients because it is an antioxidant that is needed for normal cell reaction. Coral calcium is thought to be a “cure” but is only calcium, with no extraordinary benefits. Ginkgo biloba may have effect on brain and body cells, and has been used for centuries. Huperzine A is a medicine that had been approved by the FDA, but only to treat moderate Alzheimer’s. Omega-3 fatty acids could possibly help not only dementia, but also help blood and heart vessels of the body. Phosphatidylserine is a lipid found on the membrane of surrounding nerve cells, and said to protect cells from being destroyed. Tramiprosate is an amino acid said to be a possible treatment for AD. Scientists have also experimented with the protein CD147. CD147 regulates the production of toxins that the brain cells are infected with, therefore possibly slowing down cell loss( Springer 2009, 14). Recent studies have unfortunately concluded that excessive use of the protein can increase the making of the peptides that cause plaque buildup in the brain. There is also no way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but people use strategies such as exercising, eating brain-healthy food, sleeping regularly, relaxing, and keeping your mind active. These strategies can help build physical and emotional strength and possibly delay the affects of Alzheimer’s.
Finally, scientists have come up with an alternative idea to a future cure for not only Alzheimer’s disease but also, other disorders dealing with the brain. They have constructed an idea of using stem cells and skin cells to make brain cells lost in AD. Stem cells are cells that have the ability to generate into different types of cells(Ekonomou 2011, 1). They are also very useful because they can be isolated, cultured, and easily manipulated. However, in order for the cell to readjust into a different type of cell, it would have to be in embryonic state(Singer 2010, 2). There are many cultural issues that go along with using embryonic cells
because there are not as available as skin cells, or other body cells(Ekonomou 2011, 4).
For this reason, scientist, Doug Melton and his team came up with iPS
cells, also known as induced pluripotent stem cells, which can go back
to the embryonic state(Steenhuysen 2011, 3). To create iPS cells scientist took nineteen genes
found only in the brain, then attached them to viruses to transfer each
of the genes into the skin cells(Alleyne 2010, 5). They later found out that, one only of
the genes successfully converted the gene into immature neurons. After
further researching they tested the combination of three other genes,
which also had the same result. Not only can these cells be grown in
large numbers, but can quickly convert skin cells into neurons without
complication. In another experiment skin cells were taken from three
different individuals. One was an Alzheimer’s patient, the second was an
at- risk patient, and the last one had no risk of AD(Mozes 2011, 5). In the lab, they
were able to manipulating them first in iPS cells, then BFC replacement
cells. BFC cells are also known as basal forebrain cholinergic cells,
and are one of the first cells lost in AD(Mozes 2011, 6). Before scientists had to take
adult stem cells and convert them back to the embryonic stage. Although
it would cause less cultural problems, converting adult stem cells
takes more time, because it involves stripping specific epigenetics,
which refers to the way cells package DNA. Experimenting with the new
idea of stem cells and skin cells are scientists, Bissonnette and
Kessler. Together they have inserted newly grown nerve cells into the
brains of mice, to find out that the mice were functioning normally, and
producing axons and chemicals necessary for the brain(Boyle 2011, 4). With research
about the newly developed brain cells increasing, scientist will one day
successfully find a way to transfer healthy brain cells in Alzheimer
patients. Although, some people disagree and believe that even with the
new brain cells, the actual disease wouldn’t be targeted. However, others believe the new brain cells will encourage the growth of brain cells, and reverse the disease(Kokaia 2006, 3).
Stem
cells have also been used in a variety of medical discoveries, and
research. For example, stem cells are a possible way of explaining
complex and serious conditions such as birth defects and cancer. They
can also be used to make cells and tissues for diseases such as
Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, heart disease, diabetes, and
even arthritis. One concern about inserting stem cells for research is
the risk that cells might form tumors and become cancerous if cell
division continues uncontrollably. However, because stem cells are
studied so closely, and experimented with in labs, complications are
unlikely to occur. There are also ethical and legal complications that
keep stem cell research from being studied in depth. However, with the help of iPS cells, research still
continues to arise. In 1908, the Russians had proposed the existence of
stem cells. In modern day the first trial of embryonic stem cells was
transferred into humans. Geron, the company performing the surgeries,
was given permission by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use
the controversial cells to treat individuals who suffered from spinal
cord injuries. Patients will be in the trials for about fourteen day,
and be given the stem cell treatment. However, it will take time for the
results to show that the treatment was safe and effective. Between 1908
and present day, technology has drastically excelled. In the future,
stem cells could be the beginning of major medical successes.
Obviously, stem cells have played a huge role in the future cure of Alzheimer's disease. As experiments continue scientists will be able to improve their knowledge about not only stem cells, but Alzheimer's and other brain disorders as well.
Bibliography:
1. http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=77&pageNumber=6
2. http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/data/Morris%20testimony.pdf
3. http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/24424/?a=f
4. http://review-of-current-research.stsd.wikispaces.net/file/view/Effects+of+Alzheimer%E2%80%99s+Disease+on+the+Human+Brain.pdf
5. http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/91/30477/researchers-discover-how-alzheimers-disease-kills-brain-cells.html
6. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_alzdisease.pdf
7. http://www.websenc.es/uploads/1181733389__kokaia.pdf
8. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/04/us-alzheimers-stemcells-idUSTRE7230XD20110304?pageNumber=1
9. http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-03/using-stem-cells-scientists-re-create-neurons-succumb-alzheimers
10. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/7085635/Skin-cells-turned-into-brain-cells-in-stem-cell-breakthrough.html
11. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=139355
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