1. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
By Jenny Piciw

2. Characteristics Adult on-set dementia Memory loss Confusion
Poor judgment
Decrease in communication
Agitation
Hallucinations
Seizures
Cortex shribels up  thinking, planning, memory
Hippocampus  key role in formation of new memories
Ventricles  fluid filled spaces  become larger

4. Factors Head Trauma Heart-head connection
Management of other health conditions
Healthy Aging
Head-heart connection  alztiemer’s due to damage of the brain and it has been proven that people how have had strokes and heart attacks have an increased risk of alzheimer’s diesease  this is because of decreased blood flow to the brain which does not allow for proper function
Other health conditions  diabetes

5. Link with Genetics Risk Genes Deterministic Genes Direct cause of AD
Increase probability
Not a direct cause of AD
APOE-e4
Deterministic Genes
Direct cause of AD
Inheritance  AD
Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer’s Disease (ADAD)
Early onset  typically between 30-60
No widespread cause
APP
PS-1
PS-2

6. Genetic Trends of ADAD Affected individuals  affected parents
Siblings  50% chance of also inheriting
Occasionally identified in second degree relative
Could also be caused by de nova mutation
Siblings  chances of inheriting are small

7. APOE-e4  Apolipoprotein E-e4
1993  first discovered  greatest impact
Mutant form of APOE
Normal combines lipids to form lipoproteins
1 copy  slightly increased risk
2 copies  higher risk
Factor of 20-25% of cases
Earlier onset

9. Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)
1987
50+ mutations ADAD
Lead to increased amyloid β peptide  amyloid plaques
Type 1 (early onset)
10-15% of ADAD cases

10. Presenilin-1 (PS-1)
1992
Normal  development of brain+ spinal cord  activates genes  cell growth and maturation
150+ mutations  amyloid plaques  kills neurons
30-70% of cases of ADAD
Presenilin-1 is believed to work with other enzymes to cut APP into peptides  soluble APP  growth-promoting properties  nueron formation before and after birth

11. Presenilin-2 (PS-2)
1993
Normal processes proteins  chemical signals from cell membrane to nucleus
11+ mutations  disrupt APP processing
˂ 5% of cases of ADAD
95% penetrance
Presenilin-2 is believed to work with other enzymes to cut APP into peptides  soluble APP  growth-promoting properties  nueron formation before and after birth

12. Diagnosis
Biomarkers  can accurately determine the presence or absence of a disease
Brain Imaging  MRI or PET
Proteins present in the fluid around the brain
Current methods :
Magnetic resonance imaging
Positron emmission tomography

13. Treatment Do not cure AD Help with cognitive and behavioral symptoms
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Mematine
Vitamin E
 aricept, exelon, razadyne, cognex
Prevent break down of acetycholine  messanger important for learning and memory
Namenda
Regulates activity of glutamate  involved in learning and memory
Help with memory loss, confusion and reasoning ability
Vitamin E  antioxidant  protects brain cells and the body tissue from chemical wear and tear  high doses delay loss of ability to carry out daily activities

14. Things you should remember:
AD is a disease that impairs cognitive function
Genetic factors can put one at risk or can be deterministic
One can be at increased risk if they have the following:
Brain trauma
Heart Attack
Uncontrolled diabetes
Are generally not healthy
Carry one or more copies of the APOE-e4 gene
If a person carries a mutation in any of the following it will lead to AD
APP
PS-1
PS-2
Amypliod B

15. Works Cited Works Cited
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"APOE." Gentic Home Reference. N.p., 25 Nov Web. 2 Dec
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Bird, Thomas D. "Early-Onset Familial Alzheimer Disease." Early-Onset Familial Alzheimer Disease. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Oct Web. 02 Dec
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"File:Autosomal Dominant Pedigree Chart.svg." - Wikimedia Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec Used for picture
"File:Diagram of the Human Heart (cropped).svg." - Wikimedia Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec Used for picture
"Genetic Test Shows Risk of Cognitive Impairment Rather than Alzheimer's." Mempowered. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec
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"PSEN1." - Presenilin 1. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec
"PSEN2." - Presenilin 2 (Alzheimer Disease 4). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec
"Traumatic Brain Injury Resource Websites." Traumatic Brain Injury Resource Websites. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec
"Younger/Early Onset | Alzheimer's Association." Younger/Early Onset | Alzheimer's Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec