Alzheimer’s Disease Savidra Lucatero, Vinita Mehrotra, Sabrina Rawlings, Jackie Wheeler, & Matt Zustiak

Outline Introduction Background Match ’Em Up Game! –Discussion Current Diagnosis Current Treatment Research –Hands-On Activity Questions

Preclinical/Mild AD Notice size of hippocampus

Moderate AD Notice the hippocampus

Severe AD Notice hippocampus and degradation as a whole

Preclinical/Mild AD Notice size of hippocampus

Production of Beta-amyloid APP binds to brain cell

Production of Beta-amyloid Enzymes cut APP molecule and release Beta-amyloid

Production of Beta-amyloid Beta-amyloid conglumerates

What Are Neuritic Plaques? Extracellular abnormalities involving the accumulation of beta/A4-amyloid. Beta/A4-amyloid derives from amyloid precursor protein (APP). Abnormal degradation of this protein produces peptide fragments which aggregate into insoluble beta/A4-amyloid.

What Are Neuritic Plaques? Spherical in structure measuring about 0.2 millimeters in diameter

What Are Neuritic Plaques? Often found adjacent to capillaries and large blood vessels. Generally found on the surface of cerebral cortex. Can be found in other regions of the brain. (i.e. hypothalamus, cerebeller cortex, pons, etc.)

What Do They Look Like?

Different Stages of Neuritic Plaques Primitive Plaques Diffuse Plaques Hypermature Plaques

Different Stages of Neuritic Plaques Primitive Plaques Diffuse Plaques Hypermature Plaques

What Do They Look Like?

Production of Tangles Normal microtubules have stabilizing tau molecules. Diseased microtubules degrade and release the tau molecules which form tangles.

What Are Neurofibrillary Tangles? Twisted nerve cell fibers made up of damaged remains of microtubules. Tau proteins promote microtubule stability. Tau proteins become hyperphosphorylated. Abnormal tau protein binding causes microtubule breakdown and the tau protein clump to form neurofibrillary tangles.

What Do They Look Like?

Preclinical/Mild AD Brain Blue indicates beta-amyloid

Moderate AD Brain Blue indicates beta-amyloid

Severe AD Brain Blue indicates beta-amyloid

Focus On The Use Of Vaccines Research On Alzheimer Treatment

The Antibody Molecule

How Antibodies Work

 -Amyloid Plaques In The Brain Hypoccampus Mice was not injected with antibody Mice injected with antibody  amyloid plaques are seen  amyloid plaques are not seen

Cortex Mice was not injected with antibody Mice injected with antibody

Antibody Production

Pharmacokinetics

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