The Unsolved Mystery of Alzheimer’s
There are many diseases and conditions that exist that can result in memory loss and dementia. For example, some victims of injuries that affect the brain may develop memory loss due to trauma to the organ. Another example includes victims of strokes. A stroke involves a loss in oxygen and blood in the brain. This can happen from blood clots or broken blood vessels. Both of these scenarios include mostly short term memory loss. Dementia can occur due to various diseases such as a stroke, however, one of the most famous disease associated with dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease. The disease is highly known because of its destructive features and its irreversibility. In addition, there is still no cure to the disease.
Similarly to Dr. Meredith Grey’s mother, Ellis, and Dr. Richard Webber’s wife, Adele, from Grey’s Anatomy, many Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease. There are two forms of the disease: early on-set Alzheimer’s and late on-set Alzheimer’s. While most patients who suffer from the disease are considered seniors (aged 65+), this is not always the case. Patients who have the disease before they are 65 years old have early on-set Alzheimer’s. This form of the disease makes up only about 5% of the whole Alzheimer’s population. It also involves genetics in that people who have early on-set usually have a genetic defect in chromosome 14. The gene can be inherited. Late on-set refers to the disease developing in people 65+ in age. This on-set does not have any connections to genetics.
There are three forms of the disease. This includes mild Alzheimer’s, moderate Alzheimer’s, and severe Alzheimer’s. Mild Alzheimer’s refers to the first two years of the disease. It can be extended to four. During this early stage of the disease, the patient typically faces the common symptoms that are associated with depression. This includes a lack of interest in people and activities that the patient was normally associated with, a lack of energy, insomnia along with frequent mood changes. In addition to the depressive symptoms, short term memory loss is typically associated as well. Examples include forgetting directions, forgetting words, and forgetting recent occurrences such as a conversation. Finally, other associations include problems in coordination and following directions. Examples of this include trouble with driving, cooking, exercising, and following a normal routine. It is easy for some patients to be paranoid about their symptoms. Although Alzheimer’s disease is slowly rising in numbers, patients who have similar symptoms most likely have another disease or condition. This includes sleep deprivation, burn out, prolonged stress, depression, and drug use.
Moderate Alzheimer’s disease can progress after the two years of mild Alzheimer’s. This condition greatly impacts everyday life. Many people hear stories of Alzheimer patients leaving their house in the middle of the night and wandering. The wandering patients are often confused about their location and the people around them. They are also confused about their location and people even at home. For example, they may forget their family members and friends and forget that they are living in their own house. Symptoms from the mild condition also worsen. The last form of Alzheimer’s disease is severe. Along with previous symptoms, patients also lose an understanding of who they are and develop worsened dementia and hallucinations. New symptoms include symptoms that are typically associated with neurological disorders such as seizures, loss of control in bodily functions, immobilization, and contractions of infections.
Alzheimer’s disease continues to remain a mystery in many aspects. Many medical doctors and scientists have an idea of what causes the disease, however, it is not fully understood. Like many diseases out there, there has to be multiple implications that cause them. For example, cancer can be caused by multiple factors. This includes: failure of DNA polymerase to “fix” mistakes during DNA replication, free radicals, UV rays, certain chemicals and materials, environmental factors and a prolonged unhealthy lifestyle. While cancer continues to be a strong ongoing research topic, more is known about the disease than Alzheimer’s. There are only a few understandings about Alzheimer’s disease. One understanding includes one cause of the disease: a prion. The normal eukaryotic organism requires billions of proteins to successfully achieve necessary biological processes. Proteins have four stages: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary (this last stage does not occur in all proteins). The tertiary and quaternary stages involve protein folding. A misfold in proteins results in a pseudo-life form known as a prion. We normally have a cellular prion protein (PrPC) which is presented in all tissue cells in the body. This normal protein function is still under investigation but it seems that PrPC functions as a receptor and has roles in biological processes. When the conformation of PrPC changes, or in other words, misfold occurs, scapie prion protein (PrPSc) is the product. This conformation involves high levels of β-pleated sheets and it is also resistant to the protein protease. Protease functions in cellular replication processes. PrPSc is therefore the infectious prion as we know it. This misfold causes failure in synapsis and cognitive functions. The cause of the misfolding is yet to be understood.
Because the disease is not very understood, the understanding of what increases chances of developing it is also unknown. However, some medical doctors have some ideas. This includes unhealthy lifestyles, trauma to the head and brain, drug use, and ongoing heart conditions. In addition, family history and genetics play a role. The best way to avoid this neurological disorder is to live a social, active, and a healthy habitual lifestyle. This includes incorporating good diets, exercise, socializing with others, and sleeping.
There is currently no cure in the disease. Based on this, many patients go on to live their life with mild Alzheimer’s but require minor assistance but can still do most things on their own. Others require around the clock care. Research continues to be conducted. Recently, doctors in states with legalized medical marijuana began prescribing medical marijuana to patients with the disease. While it does not cure it, it does alleviate symptoms and promote survival of neurological cells. More traditional medications utilize medications that manage behavior disorders. Today’s research focuses on understanding the prion, understanding the disease, causes, prevention, and cures. Considering the fact that the disease is caused by a misfolded protein, further research can focus on a treatment that can denature misfolded proteins.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2019/05/414326/alzheimers-disease-double-prion-disorder-study-shows
