1. Alzheimer’s Disease By: Chelcy Branon

2. Facts  In 2006, there were 26.6 million sufferers worldwide  Costs 100 billion dollars per year

3. 2 Types of AD  Early Onset AD:  Symptoms before age 60  Much less common (5%); but gets more severe quicker.  Runs in families and through genes.  Late Onset AD:  Symptoms after age 60.  Most common.

4. Causes of Alzheimer’s  Genetics  Old age  6 th leading cause of death; live about 8 years after diagnosed.  Starts in the learning part of the brain  Scientists believe that AD prevents parts of a cell’s “factory” from running. As the damage spreads, the cells lose their ability and eventually die off.  Plaques and tangles target parts of the brain that affect memory in people with AD.

5. Causes continued  Loss of neurons and synapses in the cerebral cortext. Causes degeneration of the frontal cortex, temporal lobe and parietal lobe.  Protein misfolding disease caused by the over abundance of abnromally folded amyloid beta and amyloid tau.

6. Medicine/Treatment  Slow down the progression of the disease.  Manage all symptoms to make everyday life more manageable.  Drug Treatment:  Donepezil and Rivastigmine: Cholinesterase inhibitor that improves mental function. It is a naturally occuring substance in the brain.  Galantamine: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that targets memory and thought by increasing a natural substance in the brain.  Memantine: a NMDA receptor antagonist that decreases the abnormal activity in the brain to help people think clearer.

7. Future  95% of known information of AD has been found in the last 15 years.  Studies are continuously happening.  FIND A CURE.

8. Cites  Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Alzheimer's Disease." Alzheimer's Disease. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 27 Nov. 2012..  "Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer's Association." Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's Association, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012..  "Alzheimer's Disease." Wikipedia; The Free Encyclopedia. N.p., 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012..  "Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet." National Institute on Aging. Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center, Sept. 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012..