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Alzheimer's disease cause identified?

wdlove

wdlove

macrumors P6
Original poster
Oct 20, 2002
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An estimated 15 million suffer from Alzheimer's world wide. John Disterhoft of the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, and colleagues studied a strain of Alzheimer's disease-prone mouse to try to find out. As the animals age, Aß (Amyloid Beta proteins) levels rise and their memory declines - the rodents are less able to remember cage mates and learned locations. They think that this protein may be the cause of mental decline.

http://www.nature.com/nsu/040105/040105-6.html
 
There's many factors that researchers believe will help to put a prevention to this disease, but nothing is ever final. It makes me think there's just as many, if not more, contributing factors which cause it that we all don't know about yet.
 
A fact to note: people who ingest large amouns of aluminum over time are much more likely to develop alzheimer's disease
 
My mother has dementia/Alzheimer's. She was fine last Christmas. Last Spring forgetful. Due to agitation was moved to a nursing home. Last Fall not able to answer a question when I called her on the phone. Now she no longer talks on the phone. My brother say that when he visits, she just smiles. Ocassionaly with a yes or no.

For her this research is too late. Hopefully something will be available in time for Baby Boomers.
 
Originally posted by wdlove
My mother has dementia/Alzheimer's. She was fine last Christmas. Last Spring forgetful. Due to agitation was moved to a nursing home. Last Fall not able to answer a question when I called her on the phone. Now she no longer talks on the phone. My brother say that when he visits, she just smiles. Ocassionaly with a yes or no.

For her this research is too late. Hopefully something will be available in time for Baby Boomers.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about that man, I too have witnessed a family member deteriorate due to Alzheimer's. My family was fortunate that he never forgot his wife and was so socialy adept that he'd understand that he should know you and engage in some small talk. Even still it was tough on his kids and grandkids, who recalled the vibrant & boisterous man he was.

I hope a cure can be found, it would save so much grief and restore so much dignity to many sufferers.
 
Originally posted by Counterfit
What is the difference between Alzheimer's and senility? Is there one?
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They are essentially synonymous. The term senitlity is an older term, along with dementia. Both mean a deterioration of brain function. Here is an expansive explanation of Alzheimer's definition, cause, & treatment. If you go to the bottom of each page it will give you additional information.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/9129-1.asp
 
Nothing in biology is as simple as it seems. There are many "causes" of a pathology. Fortunately the pace of progress is increasing rapidly.

Much like "cancer" is a generic term describing unchecked cellular proliferation, senility would be a generic term describing slowed cognition. Alzheimer's is a specific process of neural degeneration in a part of the brain.

There are many studies investigating Alzheimer's. Just go to pubmed and search for it.
 
interesting.

a couple of weeks ago i saw a story on the TV about a possible treatment to reduce the possiblility of alzheimers. this was for people not yet affected by alzheimers, more of a perventative measure. and what they thought could help is a perscription of anti-inflammatories. it has something to do with the brain swelling... well that's the best i can remember it right now.

interesting stuff.
 
Originally posted by Sedulous
Nothing in biology is as simple as it seems. There are many "causes" of a pathology. Fortunately the pace of progress is increasing rapidly.

Much like "cancer" is a generic term describing unchecked cellular proliferation, senility would be a generic term describing slowed cognition. Alzheimer's is a specific process of neural degeneration in a part of the brain.

There are many studies investigating Alzheimer's. Just go to pubmed and search for it.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you. Prevention is the best way to treat the disease. With the aging of Baby Boomers, it has definitely increased the pace of research.
 
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