The following is an extract from a document written by myself in the 1980s.
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's Disease is a condition which causes a progressive decline in the ability to remember, to learn, to think and to reason, by damaging some of the cells in the brain. It is particularly sad when it affects younger people, but it is now known to be commoner amongst the elderly and is the most frequent cause of mental deterioration in later life. The rapid increase in the number of older people in this country is beginning to focus attention upon this condition. Still surprisingly few are aware of the existence of the disease, or its significances to both younger and older patients and their relatives or helpers. Relatives often face mental strain, as well as increasing physical strain as the person requires more and more care.
The Effects on the Brain
The disease is associated with abnormalities of proteins in the neurones, which are one of the major types of brain cell and are situated in the cerebral cortex i.e. the outermost layer of the brain. Abnormal fibres accumulate within these cells and look like tangles of small filaments when viewed with a microscope. These tangles are the characteristic feature of the disease and were first described early in the 20th century by German, Alois Alzheimer.
As well as the tangles there are also collections of degenerating nerve endings which are known as plaques, the number of which is often greater in the more severely mentally disabled person, as also can be the number of neurofibrillary tangles. Often however, these changes are present in the brain tissue of normal elderly people, albeit usually to a lesser extent, therefore making the picture a very complex one.
The Cause of Alzheimer's Disease?
The cause of this condition is unknown. It is not the result of hardening of the arteries, nor is it known to be transmitted from one person to another and although it may be aggravated by mental and emotional stress, this does not cause the disease. There is some evidence that there may be inherited pre-disposition in some families but even this is not certain.
However the aetiological potential of toxic processes, for example, has generated considerable interest with attention focussing on aluminium in particular in recent years, following reports of elevated concentrations of the element in some parts of the brain in Alzheimer's Disease. The hypothesis that aluminium toxicity may be casually significant in senile dementia also appears to gain credibility from studies of the relationship between particular trace metal and haemodialysis encephalopathy syndrome.
Modern medical research in this field is continually adding to our knowledge and some biochemical techniques are producing very promising indications for future investigation. Certain chemical substances in the normal brain (neurotransmitters) have been found to be deficient in patients with the disease. Important research is also advancing on the virology (Study of viruses) histology (Microscopic study of tissues) and immunology (study of the role of ant-bodies) in the disease.
Where do we Stand Today on the Disease?
It is nearly 30 years since I wrote this piece as part of my 2500 word document; since that time there have been some significant discoveries. As reported in Science Daily, tau protein which is a normal part of the brain and central nervous system, would normally contain 3 or 4 phosphates. However in Alzheimer's Disease the tau protein becomes abnormal, containing 21-25 phosphates.
A single phosphate within the tau protein, Ser202 amino acid, is the principle culprit in Alzheimer's Disease. Brain imaging at an early stage looks for the single phosphate and the possibility of an early diagnosis now exists. This discovery gives a clear direction for treatment.
More recently reported in MedicineNet is that a protein enzyme, beta-secretase has been identified. This acts by trimming off protein protruding from a brain cell. From this small snip, a build up of microscopic debris forms called an amyloid, which is toxic to the brain cells. In turn the cells gradually die causing memory loss and a decrease in mental faculties.
Although there is still no known cure, an early diagnosis enables drugs and treatments to be used to combat the ravages of this disease and give the patient a better quality of life.
Source:
- Alzheimer's Disease Society 1982
- Science Daily - Alzheimer's Disease
- MedicineNet - Alzheimer's Disease
