Biology Presentation Alzheimer's

Senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT) or Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Kat Boardman Biology 1 Lab Group A

What is Alzheimer's Dementia? This is a neurological disorder that leads to memory loss. The second most common dementia is Parkinson's disease. This directly effects your motor abilities such as unsteady gait. One person can forget how to do their everyday tasks, and eventually even who they are. Family members and friends can appear to be strangers. It is difficult to know where this comes from and how it is passed down from parent to offspring. Research is developing and it is trying to help the care givers of those with this disease. It effects more than 5 million American's all of which need help to stay safe.

What makes this genetic? Although this disorder effects the proteins in your brain, some of the relaying causes have been found on specific chromosomes. If you recall, proteins are made from a triple codon sequence located on your DNA. Alzheimer's changes the shapes of these proteins, and the function of a protein depends on its structure. These chromosomes are slightly mutated and pass on to offspring through errors in DNA duplication.

The 2 types of Alzheimer's Disease 

Less than 10% of people who suffer from AD have the Familial AD (FAD) −



This is “early onset” because the symptoms occur before 50-60yrs of age

The more common “late onset” is Sporadic AD (SAD) −

People may live until 70 or 80 without ever showing signs of this

What chromosomes are linked to AD?      

Chromosome 1 (presenilin 2 gene, 1%) (<5%) Chromosome 10 (glutathione S-transferase, omega-1) Chromosome 12 (alpha-2-macroglobulin, 30%) Chromosome 14 (presenilin 1 gene, 50%) (30-70%) Chromosome 19 (cholesterol transporter apoE, 40%) Chromosome 21 (amyloid precursor protein APP, 1%) (10-15%) − More 

recent discoveries had been made on

Chromosomes 4, 8, 10. The linkage between chromosome 4 and 8 was not mathematically significant. These influence the age-atonset.

Overall, Early and Late onset Chromosome 4 Chromosome 8 Chromosome 12 Chromosome 19

Chromosome 1 Chromosome 4 Chromosome 8 Chromosome 10 Chromosome 12 Chromosome 14 Chromosome 19 Chromosome 21

Chromosome 1 Chromosome 14 Chromosome 21

What causes such memory loss? It is thought that as normal cells divide, the cells in the brain are trying to as well. Nerve damage: two main forms 1.neurofibrillary tangles- nerve fibers in the brain become tangled -Tangles are twisted fibers from a protein tau 2. Protein (beta amyloid) fragments known as plaques build up between nerve cells The tangles and plaques that develop damage the healthy cells surrounding them. As the nerve cells die, the ability to transmit information slows. The buildup of this plaque takes time to develop. Which is why it occurs later in life.

Is it possible to find out if I will get AD? apolipoprotein E – a blood protein whose function is to transport fatty substances within the body It is a potential marker for the cause of AD. It lays on chromosome 19 and although through tests it can only be determined if you carry this gene, particularly its allele ApoE4; marked with late-onset. Yet some people who carry this gene do not develop dementia. One of the tests done to label this gene is done by taking a sample of brain tissue, only done during autopsy. The only definite diagnosis of this disease lays within death.

Famous People with Alzheimer's Ronald Reagan, 40th President of USA Harry Ritz, performer Sugar Ray Robinson, boxer Norman Rockwell, artist Simon Scott, actor Irving Shulman, screenwriter Betty Schwartz, Olympic gold medal winner in track events Kay Swift,composer Alfred Van Vogt, science fiction writer

Carroll Campbell, Former Rebublican Senator Joyce Chen, chef Perry Como, Singer entertainer Aaron Copland, composer Willem DeKooning, artist Tom Fears, professional football player and coach Louis Feraud, fashion designer Arlene Francis, actor Mike Frankovich, film producer John Douglas French, physician Barry Goldwater, Senator of Arizona

10 Warning Signs for AD 1. Memory loss. Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. 2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game. 3. Problems with language. People with Alzheimer's disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. 4. Disorientation to time and place. People with Alzheimer's disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home. 5. Poor or decreased judgment. Those with Alzheimer's may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers.

6. Problems with abstract thinking. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used. 7. Misplacing things. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. 8. Changes in mood or behavior. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may show rapid mood swings from calm to tears to anger for no apparent reason. 9. Changes in personality. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member. 10. Loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer's disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities.

Is there a relationship between AD and Parkinson's Disease? NEDD9 gene is in both neurodegenerative disorders, Both autosomal dominant prion protein diseases Studies show that AD and PD with family history are more likely to pass it on The gene, GSTO1 is involved with the age-at-onset located on chromosome 10. its allele GSTO2 also in regulation

Both dementia's are related to a loss of nerve cells.

NEDD9 fails to prove as a means of determination for these diseases. GSTO1 is involved in inflammation, that plays a role in the brain. Reducing inflammation may reduce symptoms. But age-at-onset is not determined during DNA duplication, only found once signs are noticeable.

Conclusion

AD and PD are not genetically related, if your mother had Alzheimer's it does not make you more likely to develop Parkinson's. In less than 10% of cases it is more likely that you will develop this disorder if a family member had it. There is no test to prove and you are just as likely to not inherit this. A doctor will give an answer of you may or may not. It is unknown. They do know that it has genetic tendencies and are looking further into it.

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Bibliography page 2 Julien Chapuis, Frédéric Moisan, Georges Mellick, Alexis Elbaz, Peter Silburn, Florence Pasquier, Didier Hannequin, Corinne Lendon, Dominique Campion, Philippe Amouyel, Jean-charles Lambert. (2008). Association study of the NEDD9 gene with the risk of developing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Human Molecular Genetics, 17(18), 2863-7. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from ProQuest Biology Journals database. (Document ID: 1575855541). Richard Mayeux (2003). Epidemiology of neurodegeneration. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 26, 81-104. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from ProQuest Psychology Journals database. (Document ID: 415405011).