| Along with the development of modern
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| | that a patient or his/her family would
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| technologies, going to the moon and other
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| | not even notice. The good thing is that
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| exciting developments humans face the
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| | even these drugs will help to postpone
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| threat of diseases that affect the
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| | the necessity of taking a patient to a
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| process of life and can be lethal in some
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| | nursing home (Alzheimer's Association).
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| cases. One of the illnesses that have a
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| | The only agents that are approved called
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| great affect on people's behavior is
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| | selective Acetylcholinesterase
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| Alzheimer's disease (AD). Alzheimer's
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| | inhibitors. They are designed to protect
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| disease is the degenerative disease of
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| | the cholinergic system which is
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| the brain among old people from which
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| | responsible for memory and learning and
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| there is no recovery. Slowly the disease
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| | is destroyed in AD. We have the
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| attacks the brain cells in all parts of
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| | following:
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| the brain and some surrounding
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| | ⢠Donepezil. Donepezil (Aricept) is
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| structures, so the an ill person loses
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| | taken once a day and has only modest
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| the previous abilities to govern
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| | benefits but it helps to slow loss of
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| emotions, understand mistakes, coordinate
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| | function and reduce caregiver burden. It
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| his movements and finally a person loses
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| | works equally in patients with or without
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| all of his memory and ability to mentally
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| | ApoE4. It may even have some advantage
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| function (B. Heights 2002).
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| | for patients with moderate to severe
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| AD is named after German doctor Alois
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| | Alzheimer's disease.
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| Alzheimer. Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes
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| | ⢠Rivastigmine. Rivastigmine
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| in the brain tissue of a woman that died
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| | (Exelon) targets two enzymes (the major
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| of an unusual mental illness. He found
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| | one, acetylcholinesterase, and
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| abnormal clumps (now called amyloid
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| | butyrylcholinesterase). It is taken twice
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| plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers
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| | a day. This agent may be particularly
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| (now called neurofibrillary tangles).
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| | beneficial for patients with rapidly
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| Today, these plaques and tangles in the
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| | progressing disease. This drug has slowed
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| brain are considered hallmarks of AD.
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| | or slightly improved disease status even
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| Many scientists have found other brain
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| | in patients with advanced disease.
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| changes in people with AD. There is a
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| | (Rivastigmine may cause significantly
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| loss of nerve cells in areas of the brain
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| | more side effects than donepezil,
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| that are vital to memory and other mental
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| | including nausea, vomiting, and
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| abilities. There also are lower levels of
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| | headache.) As with all anticholinergics,
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| chemicals in the brain that carry complex
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| | the drug is not a cure.
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| messages back and forth between nerve
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| | ⢠Galantamine (Reminyl). Galantamine
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| cells. AD may disrupt normal thinking and
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| | not only protects the cholinergic system
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| memory by blocking these messages between
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| | but also acts on nicotine receptors,
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| nerve cells (H. Simon).
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| | which are also depleted during
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| Scientists are finding specific biologic
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| | Alzheimer's Studies report that it
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| factors (Peter, Konrad, and Ballenger
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| | improves daily living, behavior, and
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| 2000) involved with the AD. Different
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| | mental functioning, including in patients
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| environmental and genetic aspects take
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| | with mild to advancedâ'moderate
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| part in causing AD. However, the actual
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| | Alzheimer's disease and those with a mix
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| cause of the disease is still unknown.
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| | of Alzheimer's disease and vascular
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| The greatest known risk factors for
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| | dementia. Some studies have suggested
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| late-onset Alzheimer's are increasing age
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| | that the effects of galantamine may
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| and a family history of AD. Researches
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| | persist for a year or longer and even
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| all over the world are trying to find
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| | strengthen over time.
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| other factors that can cause AD.
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| | ⢠Tacrine. Tacrine (Cognex) was the
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| AD is nowadays the fourth leading cause
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| | first cholinergic protective drug. It
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| of death among the adults. Nearly four
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| | needs to be taken four times a day, has
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| million Americans have it. The number
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| | only modest benefits, and has no benefits
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| doubles every five years in people over
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| | for patients who carry the ApoE4 gene. In
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| sixty five years old. By the age of
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| | high doses, it can also injure the liver.
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| eighty five almost half of Americans have
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| | In general, newer cholinergic protective
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| AD. Some studies show that women have
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| | drugs that do not pose as great a risk
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| much higher risk of being affected by the
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| | for the liver are now used for
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| AD than men (most of these studies were
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| | Alzheimer's (Castleman,
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| conducted on European and Asian
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| | Gallagher-Thompson, and Naythons 2000).
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| populations, the U.S. studies, however,
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| | Half of the patients that have mild to
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| found no major differences). If there is
| |
| | moderate disease show sight improvement.
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| a gender difference, then it is because
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| | Latest studies, however, show little
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| of estrogen which is the main female's
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| | difference in effectiveness among them.
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| hormone that is responsible for
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| | All these drugs have gastrointestinal
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| protecting against memory losses and
| |
| | side effects, including nausea. Anyway,
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| normal mental functioning as compared to
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| | these drugs still have some effect. Some
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| normal age. When a female gets older, the
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| | researchers found that some patient could
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| drop of estrogen level takes place after
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| | have no reactions to one particular drug,
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| menopause and that could explain the
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| | in this case the drug should be switched
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| higher risk of AD for older women than
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| | and there is actually a chance that it
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| for men. From the other side, some of
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| | will work. There are also some
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| testosterone, male hormone, converts into
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| | alternative treatments that are being
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| estrogen and that could protect men.
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| | studied right now. One of them is Gingko
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| People that have a family history of the
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| | Biloba. It is a common herb that
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| disease are above the average risk level
| |
| | increases blood flow to the brain. Its
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| for AD. Researchers have found that ApoE4
| |
| | extract Egb 761 may slightly improve the
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| gene could be responsible for late and
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| | memory of patients that have mild to
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| early onset cases. Some studies
| |
| | moderate AD. Gingko Biloba has only
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| discovered that African Americans and
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| | minimal side effects. Turmeric also has
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| Hispanics are at higher risk than
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| | properties that may protect from AD.
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| Caucasian Americans, AD happens less
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| | Turmeric is a spice that has curcumin as
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| often in Native Americans Crees and
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| | one of its components which is thought to
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| Cherokees and in Asians than in regular
| |
| | protect from AD. Studies have also found
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| American population. Genes may have
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| | that melatonin, the natural hormone that
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| dissimilar effects in different
| |
| | has to do with sleep regulation, could
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| populations (Tanzi and Ann B. 2000).
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| | break down beta amyloid, and it is able
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| High blood pressure and high cholesterol
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| | to pass through the blood - brain
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| levels can be in fact even more risky
| |
| | barrier. Studies reported that melatonin
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| than ApoE4. At a very high risk are also
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| | improves the sleep, and in some cases
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| people that inherit the Down syndrome.
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| | even slows the mental regression (H.
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| Some other risk factors are: 1) lower
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| | Simon).
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| education and economic groups, 2) small
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| | A number of other medical treatments are
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| head size, 3) Depression, 4) head injury.
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| | being investigated and show promise in
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| A very dangerous thing about AD is that
| |
| | early or late trials. Researches are
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| brain is being damaged for years before
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| | focusing on agents that can prevent the
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| even the symptoms appear. The early
| |
| | build-up of beta amyloid, its toxic
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| symptoms that appear might be so mild
| |
| | effects on nerve cells, or other
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| that people could hardly notice them. The
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| | mechanisms of the disease process. Among
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| first one could be forgetfulness. People
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| | them are the following:
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| with AD may have troubles with recalling
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| | ⢠Nâ'methylâ'Dâ'aspartate
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| names of people that they know or
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| | (NMDA) blockers. NMDA blockers, such as
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| remember latest events or solve simple
| |
| | memantine (Ebixa), bind to glutamate, an
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| math problems. As the disease progresses
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| | amino acid that excites nerves and, in
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| people may face
| |
| | excess, is a powerful nerveâ'cell
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| ⢠Unreasonable weight losses
| |
| | killer. Memantine has shown some to be
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| ⢠Incontinence
| |
| | somewhat effective in improving symptoms
|
| ⢠Changes in sexuality
| |
| | and is being considered for approval in
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| ⢠Difficulties in walking
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| | Europe and the US.
|
| ⢠Depression, apathy, irritability
| |
| | ⢠Growth factors that stimulate
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| Half of all patients that have AD face
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| | nerve activity in the brain. Cerebrolysin
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| the psychotic problems that can include
| |
| | (Cere) is an example of such drugs and is
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| hallucinations, visions. It is a complex
| |
| | showing promise in clinical trials in
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| form of the disease that is probably
| |
| | improving mental function and other
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| based in the genetic level. Many other
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| | symptoms, with sustained effects even
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| medical conditions have similar to
| |
| | after the drug has been stopped.
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| Alzheimer's symptoms. It is crucially
| |
| | Leteprinim potassium (Neotrofin)
|
| important to identify the right disease
| |
| | activates genes that produce
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| to succeed in future treatments of it.
| |
| | nerveâ'growth factor in the brain.
|
| However, we have not yet developed a test
| |
| | Early human trials are suggesting that it
|
| that would diagnose AD with the hundred
| |
| | may have positive effects on memory and
|
| percent guarantee. So, right now
| |
| | behavior. Insulin and insulin growth
|
| diagnosis involves ruling out other
| |
| | factors may prevent beta amyloid
|
| disorders the following questions about
| |
| | accumulation.
|
| the state of a patient:
| |
| | ⢠Antioxidants.
|
| ⢠Do psychologist tests indicate
| |
| | Indoleâ'3â'propionic acid, or IPA
|
| dementia?
| |
| | (Oxigon), is a natural agent that may
|
| ⢠Does the patient have problems
| |
| | interfere with enzymes that contribute to
|
| with using language, walking, perception?
| |
| | the Alzheimer's disease process.
|
| ⢠Has memory gotten greatly worse?
| |
| | ⢠Huperzine alpha, another
|
| ⢠Is the patient over 40?
| |
| | acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, improved
|
| ⢠Does his/her behavior changes
| |
| | mental function, behavior, and mood in
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| daily?
| |
| | Alzheimer's disease patients in one
|
| ⢠Does the patient have a family
| |
| | Chinese study. Other research also
|
| history of AD?
| |
| | suggests some benefits.
|
| ⢠Are there other symptoms like
| |
| | ⢠Piracetam is a nerve protective
|
| depression, weight loss, hallucinations?
| |
| | agent called a nootropic. It has
|
| Other steps that are involved in making a
| |
| | undergone a number of small studies, with
|
| decision involve laboratory tests (EEG
| |
| | few significant results. More research is
|
| and tests to rule out other diseases) and
| |
| | needed to determine any benefits.
|
| psychological testing to determine the
| |
| | ⢠Researchers are investigating
|
| presence of dementia.
| |
| | immunotherapies that include vaccines,
|
| There is no guarantee that some life
| |
| | which use molecules in beta amyloid as
|
| styles will prevent AD, however, studies
| |
| | targets for the body's immune system, and
|
| show that particular life styles can play
| |
| | antibodies that block proteins called
|
| very important role in preventing AD. It
| |
| | CD40â'CD40L, which are involved in
|
| is crucial to prevent heart diseases.
| |
| | amyloid deposition.
|
| Calcium - Channel Blocker and other Anti
| |
| | ⢠Tetracyclines. Antibiotics known
|
| - Hypertensive Agents can be used to
| |
| | as tetracyclines, such as tetracycline
|
| protect the heart and consequently the
| |
| | itself, doxycycline, and minocycline,
|
| brain. Statins which are the common drugs
| |
| | have antiâ'inflammatory properties
|
| to lower the cholesterol level can also
| |
| | that are now being investigated in a
|
| be used to lower the risk for AD. Another
| |
| | number of chronic inflammatory conditions
|
| method that is used to prevent AD is the
| |
| | (such as periodontal disease). They also
|
| Hormone Replacement Therapy. Because of
| |
| | may have activity against beta amyloid in
|
| the difference in AD rates among
| |
| | the brain (H. Simon).
|
| different populations, researches are
| |
| | The worst thing about Alzheimer's disease
|
| looking at dietary factors as a
| |
| | is that it is not fully investigated yet.
|
| protection. In China and Nigeria where
| |
| | None of the doctors can surely diagnose
|
| fat consumption is much lower than in the
| |
| | it. And what is even worse none can cure
|
| U.S. the risk for AD at the age of sixty
| |
| | it. The worst thing is that AD lethal in
|
| five is only 1% compared to 5% in the
| |
| | all case. Using all the treatments that
|
| U.S. Studies in Netherlands reported the
| |
| | have been or are still being studied can
|
| relationship between dementia and
| |
| | only postpone the need for the nursing
|
| cholesterol levels. Eating a lot of dark
| |
| | home (Terry, Katzman, Bick, Sisodia
|
| colored fruits and vegetables may slow
| |
| | 1999).
|
| the brain degradation. Blueberries are
| |
| | The issue of Alzheimer's disease is
|
| found to be the most helpful. In any case
| |
| | crucially important to me and should be
|
| dark colored fruits and vegetables are
| |
| | to everyone. Mainly, because nobody is
|
| good for health. Other studies showed
| |
| | insured from getting AD and there is no
|
| that soy has estrogen which is thought to
| |
| | certain way to escape it. Our modern
|
| protect the memory. Some reported that
| |
| | medicine has been developing through ages
|
| small consumption of alcohol can be
| |
| | and now it cures many dangerous diseases;
|
| effective in stopping the brain aging.
| |
| | however, it is simply helpless against
|
| Not everybody agrees though. Caffeine has
| |
| | the Alzheimer's. If scholars completely
|
| a good effect on women in terms of mental
| |
| | investigate AD it will help to understand
|
| functioning. Much research on AD has
| |
| | the brain and its impact on people's
|
| showed that oxidation may have an impact
| |
| | behavior. Using that knowledge it would
|
| in the disease process. Vitamin E may
| |
| | be possible to impact the brain and its
|
| protect from mental decline. Other health
| |
| | functions. Unfortunately, all the studies
|
| behaviors like aerobic exercises or
| |
| | that were conducted about AD and were
|
| jogging are important in stopping the
| |
| | presented above can not state something
|
| mental decline. The more person exercise
| |
| | about AD with a hundred percent
|
| the better. Another aspects that play
| |
| | certainty. All the medications that are
|
| role in the prevention of mental decline
| |
| | listed above do not stop AD; they can
|
| is lifelong learning and stress
| |
| | even hardly slow it. It is very
|
| reduction.
| |
| | unpleasing fact that mankind has greatly
|
| Unfortunately, today we can only try to
| |
| | developed ways to make the brain progress
|
| prevent AD and have no cures. However,
| |
| | but have not yet found any way to stop
|
| there are drugs under investigation that
| |
| | the regression of the brain.
|
| are aimed to slow the progression of the
| |
| | Jeff Stats is a staff writer at custom
|
| AD. The bad thing is that improvements
| |
| | essay writing service Mindrelief.net.
|
| from some of these drugs can so little
| |
| |
|
