Alzheimer

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Alzheimers DiseaseSHOTS PROGRAM 2008
How soon will YOU forget?
Tyree Barnes Dioval Remonde
NC AT University Greensboro, NC Department of
Biology
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The Basics

• Alzheimers disease (AD)
• A progressive degenerative brain disease that
  gradually destroys a persons memory and mental
  functioning.

• Alzheimers Disease
• The most common form of dementia

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The Basics

• Alzheimers is most commonly found within
  individuals along the ages of 60 and older.

• Alzheimers is linked to the deposit of
  beta-amyloid protein plaques in the brain.
  Hippocampus

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The Basics

• Amyloid Precursor Protein
• Encodes the beta-amyloid protein
• Has been mapped to chromosome 21

• Other diseases linked to chromosome 21
• Down Syndrome (Trisomy)
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Motor Neurons)

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Experimental Overview

• Lisa (17) her cousin Jen (18) were concerned
  about their grandmother and her older sisters
  genetic link to Alzheimers.

• During this time of concern, along with their
  mothers, they decided to get
• tested for any genetic traces of the disease

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Experimental Overview

• Possible methods for this study

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

• A method used in the amplification of specific
  DNA sequences.

Western Blotting

• A method of detecting specific proteins in a
  given sample of tissue homogenate or extract.

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Method Of Choice
Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Experimental Process

• Polymerase Chain Reaction

• Obtained our patients samples
• Patient 1) Lisa
• Patient 2) Jen
• Patient 3) Grandma Eloise
• Patient 4) Grandma Florence
• Patient 5) Lisas MotherPatient 6) Jens Mother

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Experimental Process

• Polymerase Chain Reaction

• Samples were prepared for the PCR reaction and
  then placed into a thermocycler

• DNA products were visualized using a 0.8
  agarose gel and gel electrophoresis

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Experimental Analysis

• The results of the six patients after the gel
• electrophoresis process

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Experimental Analysis (cont.)

• Patients Results

1) Normal -- Homozygous (-/-)
2) Lisa -- Homozygous (/)
3) Jen -- Heterozygous (/-)
4) Eloise -- Homozygous (/)
5) Florence -- Heterozygous (/-)
6) Lisas Mother -- Heterozygous (/-)
7) Jens Mother -- Homozygous (-/-)
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Conclusion

• As of now scientists are still conducting
• research to cure Alzheimers

• However there are several
• available medications used
• in the treatment of mild to
• moderate cases of the disease

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Mr. John Patterson Dr. Catherine
White S.H.O.T.S Staff 2008 S.H.O.T.S
Participants THE MAGNIFICENT CLASS OF 2009