A Description of Alzheimers Disease
Laura Arose
MCB 2010 Extra Credit Term Paper
Alzheimer’s Disease Aging is an inevitable part of life. With senescence comes biological deterioration such as wrinkles, lowered metabolism, and reduced cognitive process. Though decreased cognitive processes is expected with old age, an estimated 700,000 people over the age of 65 develop Alzheimer’s disease due to its greatest risk being age. Alzheimer’s disease is known as the “most common form of dementia causing memory, behavior, and thinking problems” (Alzheimer’s Association). Alzheimer’s disease is now the “sixth leading cause of death in the United States” (Alzheimer’s Association) due to its progressive symptoms that gradually worsen over a span of four to twenty years. Yet Alzheimer’s is not only a “disease of old age.” (Alzheimer’s Association) It is said that about five percent of people with this disease have younger-set Alzheimer’s occurring in someone in their 40’s or 50’s.
With the factor of age being removed, are there any medical risk factors that are known for the onset of this horrific disease? A study with the researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that a combination of tests and factors has led to a “reliable prediction algorithm for the development of a mild cognitive impairment.” (Miller) A mild cognitive impairment, also known as an MCI, is known as an intermediate stage between the expected downfall of cognitive process due to normal aging and the tragic declination of dementia. The study says that “a sizable fraction of MCI patients progress to the dementia of Alzheimer’s Disease.” (Miller) The publishers of the National Institute of Aging, the NIA, also believe that “people seem to be symptom-free, but toxic changes are taking place in the brain.” (NIA) Other factors could include health conditions and family’s history of dementia. At a molecular level, the 23 pairs of chromosomes that humans possess have over 30,000 genes biologically coded within them. Some chromosomes are now known
MCB 2010 Extra Credit Term Paper
Alzheimer’s Disease Aging is an inevitable part of life. With senescence comes biological deterioration such as wrinkles, lowered metabolism, and reduced cognitive process. Though decreased cognitive processes is expected with old age, an estimated 700,000 people over the age of 65 develop Alzheimer’s disease due to its greatest risk being age. Alzheimer’s disease is known as the “most common form of dementia causing memory, behavior, and thinking problems” (Alzheimer’s Association). Alzheimer’s disease is now the “sixth leading cause of death in the United States” (Alzheimer’s Association) due to its progressive symptoms that gradually worsen over a span of four to twenty years. Yet Alzheimer’s is not only a “disease of old age.” (Alzheimer’s Association) It is said that about five percent of people with this disease have younger-set Alzheimer’s occurring in someone in their 40’s or 50’s.
With the factor of age being removed, are there any medical risk factors that are known for the onset of this horrific disease? A study with the researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that a combination of tests and factors has led to a “reliable prediction algorithm for the development of a mild cognitive impairment.” (Miller) A mild cognitive impairment, also known as an MCI, is known as an intermediate stage between the expected downfall of cognitive process due to normal aging and the tragic declination of dementia. The study says that “a sizable fraction of MCI patients progress to the dementia of Alzheimer’s Disease.” (Miller) The publishers of the National Institute of Aging, the NIA, also believe that “people seem to be symptom-free, but toxic changes are taking place in the brain.” (NIA) Other factors could include health conditions and family’s history of dementia. At a molecular level, the 23 pairs of chromosomes that humans possess have over 30,000 genes biologically coded within them. Some chromosomes are now known