Not Aged, Just Dead!

Dementia is seen in 25 percent of people over 85 years old. The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, occurs in one in twelve individuals over 65 and one in three individuals over 80. As of now, there is no real cure to the disease, and its effects are irreversible. There are many myths surrounding the cause of Alzheimer’s disease and its treatments. However, being informed about what Alzheimer’s is will help to dispel these myths.

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that impairs learning and memory but may even lead to impaired judgment and mood changes, which may heavily affect one’s daily life. One of the biggest myths out there is that Alzheimer’s disease occurs as a result of age; however, this is not true. There have been many cases of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed in younger patients. In addition, Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. It occurs as a result of plaque buildup in the brain that becomes toxic to brain cells once excessive levels of deposit have been reached. In addition, as the brain cells degenerate and die, the brain somewhat shrinks, which explains the results of the size difference between a brain with Alzheimer’s disease and a normal brain. Since Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, many people believe that genetics is the cause of it. However, genetics may only be mildly linked to the disease (only 7% of all reported cases are related to genetic onset of Alzheimer’s).

As of now, Alzheimer’s is neither preventable nor curable, but ongoing research is being done to find out if anything can be done. Recently announced by Irish drug company Elan and Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, the vaccine "AN-1792" contains bits of beta-amyloid. When injected in the human arm, the vaccine stimulates the immune system's antibodies to target amyloid plaques and removes the foreign bodies. This response is hoped to clear out plaques in the brain which cause Alzheimer's disease. This theory, which has been shown to be somewhat successful in rats and safe in humans, though not completely conclusive is a promising discovery towards finding the cure to Alzheimer's Disease. There is, however, growing evidence that a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease. Remember—treat your body well, and it will treat you well!

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, visit this website.

Resources:
1. http://health.asiaone.com/Health/Women%2527s%2BMatters/Story/A1Story20100218-199510.html
2. http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/myths.htm
3. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/episode5/alzheimers/index.html

The Chemicals Behind It All

The brain is composed of a network of over 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons, that branches out and connects in over 100 trillion places, forming a “neuron forest.” Each neuron is made up of a cell body, dendrites, and axons, which work together to pass along signals from one end of the system to the other end. Within this complex system, signals are passed on through an action potential as well as chemical signals known as neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, are chemicals within the brain that send out specific signals. As an individual gets older, the brain sends out less and less neurotransmitters, which is somewhat connected to learning impairment or memory loss.

About ten years ago, the neurodegenerative disorders were connected to neural cell death. However, as mentioned in my previous post, technological advancements have helped us to understand that these disorders are associated with plaque formations in the brain. Recent research has led to the Free Radical Theory, as stated by Dr. Stuart Lipton of The Burnham Institute. Free radicals are oxygen and nitrogen related molecules that are produced as a result of metabolic pathways within the body, and an excess of free radicals lead to aggregates of misfolded proteins within the brain. For example, clusters of misfolded proteins in the brain, called Lewy bodies, are found in patients with Parkinson’s disease; plaque in patients with Alzheimer’s patients; and prions in cows with Mad Cow Disease.

What have researchers said about preventing mental impairment due to free radicals? Take antioxidants to fight the oxidizing effects of free radicals. Consuming blueberries or vitamin E and drinking green tea or red wine can help decrease free radicals within the body. However, most of these don’t work well enough to completely stave off the effects of free radicals. Thus, normal every day activities will lead to the gradual decay of the brain.

Resources:

1. http://alzheimer.ca/english/alzheimer_brain_mini_site/05.htm

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um_YRFcUVpU&feature=PlayList&p=7AE7F876F78AAF63&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=9

Brain Age

As humans age, there is a physical change in the body that leads to a decline in biological function. For example, loss of collagen in skin causes wrinkles, wear and tear of joints causes arthritis, and inactivity causes muscle weakness and inflexibility. These are a couple things people worry about as they get older, but I haven’t even begun talking about the brain yet.

The most common effects of aging experienced and feared by older individuals are loss of memory, slower reaction time, decreased learning ability, and mental illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. However, there are many more physiological changes that may not even have any apparent symptoms.

For the past ten years, technological advancements and the increase of life expectancy has allowed for more conclusive research on the aging brain. For one, brain volume and weight decreases by about five to ten percent between the ages of twenty and ninety. Grooves on the brain widen and the swellings on the surface of the cortex decrease. And plaque-like clusters begin to form on the brain due to dying or damaged neurons and chemical interactions in the brain. While neuron degeneracy has been the explanation for loss of brain function and mental diseases, that is no longer the case.

Aging is a normal and inevitable process. Simply put, as long as you’re living and breathing, the brain, as well as the rest of the body, is going to continue to decay. The only preventative measure is to do your best to keep your body and mind healthy for as long as possible by:
• Exercising daily.
• Eating healthily.
• Staying intelligently engaged.
• Taking it easy and not stressing too much.
Yes, the list is extremely obvious, but it actually works.

In the future, this blog will discuss more specific topics about the brain which covers a variety of psychological and biological perspectives. My purpose is not only to bring up effects of aging on the brain but also to note preventative measures and upcoming research or discoveries on issues, like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other mental disorders.

Resources:

1. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080330183235.htm

2. http://www.usc.edu/hsc/info/pr/hmm/01spring/brain.html

3. http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=3