Alois Alzheimer and Alzheimers disease: a centennial perspective

1
Alois Alzheimer and Alzheimers disease a
centennial perspective

• By David H. Small and Roberto Cappai
• Presented by Nicholas Fischetti

2
Who was Alois Alzheimer?

• Diagnosed the first patient with what would be
  later know as Alzheimers Disease
• Study and observation of female patient in 1906.
  Key notes
• Rapid memory loss
• Disoriented in time and space
• After her death noticed heavy build up of
  unusual deposits in her cortexlater called
  neurofibrillar tangles and amyloid plaques

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Background Cont.

• Born in Marktbreit, Germany on the 14th of June
  1864.
• Attended the University of Berlin
• Gave first speech about presenile dementia in
  1906. Associated paper published in 1907.
• Died in 1912, 51 years old.

4
Plaques and Tangles

• Tangles are a collection of twisted fibers that
  build up inside nerve cells.
• Bunches of protein that accumulate outside of the
  nerve cell are called plaques, also referred to
  as beta-amyloid plaques

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Signs of Alzheimers

• Memory loss
• Confusion
• Poor judgment
• Increased anxiety
• Problems with recognition

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Whos Affected?

• Close family, especially the caretaker
• Friends
• Community

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Problems associated with Caretaking

• Depression
• Frustration and anger
• Isolation
• Stress and other health problems

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Coping with Alzheimers

• Enlist support from friends and family
• Plan ahead
• Understand that its not your fault
• Put yourself in the patients shoes

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Advancements in Therapy

• Drugs that target amyloid production, clearance,
  aggregation, and toxicity.
• Derail the effects of Alzheimers
• Nutrition supplements antioxidants, vitamin B12

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Ethical dilemma with treatment

• Current therapies and treatments have shown to
  increase life span of patients with Alzheimers,
  but is their quality of life also increased? If
  not, should treatment be administered? Who makes
  that decision if the patient is unable to