Transcript Document

GN 301 Honors/Scholars
March 19, 2008
Mark Saine
Jordan Brown
Melissa Martell
Sarah Compton
Alzheimer’s
Disease
Schizophre
nia
Mental
Illness
&
Genetics
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Alzheimer's disease (AD), also called Alzheimer disease
or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common cause of
dementia, afflicting 24 million people worldwide.
Alzheimer's is a degenerative and terminal disease for
which there is currently no known cure. In its most
common form, it occurs in people over 65 years old
although a less-prevalent early-onset form also exists.
• There are more than 5 million people in the United
States living with Alzheimer’s.
• Every 72 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
• The direct and indirect costs of the disease and
other dementias amount to more that $148 billion
annually.
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Memory loss
Difficulty Performing familiar tasks
Problems with language
Disorientation to time and place
Poor judgment
Misplacing things
Changes in mood and behavior
Changes in personality
Loss of initiative
Alzheimer’s Disease
Age-related
Forgets entire experiences
Forgets part of an experience
Is gradually unable to care for
self
Is usually able to care for self
Rarely remembers later
Often remembers later
Is gradually unable to follow
written/spoken directions
Is usually able to follow
written/spoken directions
While scientists know Alzheimer’s disease
involves progressive brain cell failure, they
have not yet identified any single reason
why cells fail. However, they have
identified certain risk factors that increase
the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s.
• AGE: The greatest known risk factor is
increasing age. Most individuals with the
disease are 65 or older. The likelihood of
developing Alzheimer’s doubles every five
years after age 65. After age 85, the risk
reaches nearly 50 percent.
Research has shown that those who have a
parent, brother or sister, or child with
Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop
the disease. The risk increases if more
than one family member has the illness.
*When diseases tend to run in families,
either genetics or environmental factors or
both may play a role.
• Risk genes increase the likelihood of
developing a disease, but do not guarantee it
will happen.
• Scientists have so far identified one
Alzheimer risk gene called apoliprotein Ee4 (APOE-e4).
• Deterministic genes directly cause a
disease, guaranteeing that anyone who
inherits them will develop the disorder.
• Rare genes that directly cause Alzheimer’s
have been found in only a few hundred
extended families worldwide.
• A gene on chromosome 19 involved in
making ApoE, a substance that helps carry
cholesterol in the bloodstream.
• The APOE e4 gene is considered a “risk
factor” gene for AD and appears to
influence the age of onset of the diesease.
• Genetic tests are available for both APOEe4 and the rare genes that directly cause
Alzheimer’s.
• Health professionals do not currently
recommend routine genetic testing for
Alzheimer’s disease.
• At this time, there is no treatment or cure.
There is no known drug that is assured to
delay or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s
disease.
• FDA-approved drugs temporarily slow
worsening of symptoms for about 6 to 12
months, on average, for about half the
individuals who take them.
• Alzheimer’s Association National Office
225 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL
60601
• 24/7 Helpline: 1.800.272.3900
Major Depressive
Disorder impairs a
person’s ability to
work, sleep, eat
and function as he
or she normally
would.
http://stormcloudi.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/depression_by_thirsty5.jpg
*Almost 15 million Americans have major depression.
*Everyone is prone to clinical depression.
*Usually occurs for people between the ages of 20 and 50
although people over the age of 65 are more vulnerable.
*Marital Status: Women who are happily married have lower
rates of depression.
To have major depressive disorder episode, for two weeks
the person must have 5 of these 9 symptoms, but they
must have either loss of interest or depressed mood.
1. Depressed mood.
2. A significantly reduced level of interest or
pleasure in most or all activities.
3. A considerable loss or gain of weight
4. Insomnia or Hypersomnia
5. Behavior that is agitated or slowed down.
6. Feeling fatigued, or diminished energy.
7. Thoughts of worthlessness or extreme guilt
8. Ability to think, concentrate, or make
decisions is reduced.
9. Frequent thoughts of death or suicide
Many factors contribute to depression. Each of these
factors work in conjunction with each other to make the
person develop major depressive disorder. These factors
include genetics, environmental factors, and biological
factors.
http://www.suescheff.org/img/su
e-scheff-depression-2.jpg
http://www.science.ca/images/Brain
_Witelson.jpg
*The serotonin transporter gene is linked to depression.
*It controls two parts of the brain: amygdala and cingulate
*Two types of this gene: the long and short version
*Those with two copies of the long version show better
connectivity between the amygdala and cingulate
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2005/depression-gene-mayweaken-mood-regulating-circuit.shtml
*Identical twins have identical genetic material.
-If twins are raised together and one twin develops
clinical depression, the other twin develops clinical depression
76% of the time.
-If twins are raised apart and one twin develops clinical
depression, the other twin develops clinical depression 67% of
the time
*Shown to go through families
*If a parent or sibling has had a major depression, the person
may be 1.5 to 3 times more likely to develop depression
*Researchers have found that certain fluctuations in
the brain chemistry can also contribute to
depression. These fluctuations are due to changes in
important hormones.
*It has also been found that there are imbalances in
two neurotransmitters in the brain: serotonin and
norepinephrine.
*Cortisol, a hormone that regulates anger, fear, and
stress, has also been an influence.
Environmental factors such as these increase the risk of
depression: major trauma, separation from a parent
before the age of 11, physical or sexual abuse during
childhood, stress.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/images/news-items/deppercent.jgg
*People may not be able to do
the same responsibilities that
they once could do
*Family of the depressed person
may have feelings of guilt,
anger, or sadness
*Relationships become strained
and others actively avoid the
person that worsens the
depressed person’s self image
and confidence
http://www.tuition.com.hk/pics/guilt.jpg
*Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitors: (SSRIs)
*Tricylics and monoamine
oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
*St. John’s wort
*“Talking therapies” and
exercise alternatives
http://www.torch.aetc.af.mil/shared/media/ggallery/hires/AFG-070503-014.jpg
*Hotlines
*Support Groups
*Therapy Groups
*Disorder being recognized
http://mrc.org.mt/filebank/imagebank/Meeting15.02.07 004.jpg
• Also known as manic-depressive illness
• Disorder of the brain
• Can cause mood shifts, changes in energy,
ability to function
• Can be treated
• Long-term illness that must be monitored
and managed throughout a person’s life
• Affects more than 5.7
million American
adults
• 2.6% of the United
States population age
18 and older in a given
year have bipolar
disorder
www.bipolar-health.com/images/post_img_6.jpg
• When symptoms appear before age 12, it is
often confused with ADHD
• Affects men and women equally
• Average age of onset: early 20’s
• Worldwide, 7 out of every 1,000 are
affected with bipolar disorder, or .7% of the
world’s population
• Bipolar disorder causes
dramatic mood swings
• Range from overly “high”
to irritable, sad, and
hopeless, then back again
• Often periods of normal
mood in between
• Periods of highs and lows
called episodes of mania
and depression
http://z.about.com/d/bipolar/1/0/i/5/yvonne.jpg
Mania
 Increased energy
 Extreme irritability
 Poor judgment
 Little sleep needed
 Abuse of drugs
Depression
 Sad, anxious, empty
mood
 Loss of interest or
pleasure in activities
 Thoughts of suicide
• Bipolar I
• The classic form of the illness
• Involves recurrent episodes of mania and depression
• Bipolar II
• Never develop severe mania
• Alternate between depression and hypomania
• Rapid-Cycling Bipolar Disorder
• Four or more episodes within 12 month period
• Tends to develop later in the course of illness
• More common among women than men
• Biochemical
• Genetic
• Environmental
• Research
• Twin Studies
• Genes
– GRK-3 gene, chromosome
22
– FAT-1 gene, chromosome 4
– AY070435 gene (Slynar),
chromosome 12
• Thought to be on 18 & 21
• Then 1, 6, 7, & 10, 22
• 11 & X-Chromosome
• Polymorphisms
• Bipolar Disorder is highly
treatable once diagnosed
• Mood Stabilizers
(Lithium)
• Combination Medication
& Psychosocial Treatment
• Anticonvulsant
Medications
• ECT (Electroconvulsive
Therapy)
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Bipolarsupport.org
Pendulum.org
Dailystrength.org
Bipolargenes.org
Depression and
Bipolar Support
Alliance (DBSA)
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder in which a
person experiences a loss of contact with
reality which reduces their ability to live a
normal life. This disorder is thought to be
caused by a mixture of genetics and
environment.
*Affects about 1% of the US population
*Sex and race does not affect the likelihood of developing the
disorder
*There is no known cure
*Symptoms begin to appear around the late teens for men and
the early 20’s for women.
• Possible symptoms:
a) May hear voices no one else can hear
b) May believe someone is reading their mind, controlling
their thoughts, or trying to cause them harm
c) May not make sense when talking
d) May sit for hours and not move
e) May have a hard time holding a job, maintaining and
establishing relationships, and difficult time taking care of
themselves.
• Positive symptoms
a) Hallucinations
b) Delusions
c) Thought disorder
d) Disorder of movement
• Negative symptoms
• Cognitive symptoms
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sUrDZBxYKko
• According to the DSM-IV in order to be diagnosed with
schizophrenia, the following must occur:
1. At least two of the following symptoms, each present
for at least a month
a) delusions
b) hallucinations
c) disorganized speech
d) negative symptoms
2. Functioning markedly below the level achieved prior to
onset
3. Continuous signs of the disturbance for a least six
months, at least one month of which includes symptoms in
full and active form.
Heredity
• Researchers have found possible gene defects
linked to schizophrenia on the following
chromosomes:
1, 6, 8, 10, 13, 18, 22, and the X
chromosome
• Polygenic: caused by a combination of gene
defects
• Genes and Environment?
• Antipsychotic medications
• Psychosocial treatment:
a) Educating the patient
b) Helping the patient manage their life
c) Substance abuse treatment
d) Rehabilitations
e) Family education
f) Cognitive behavioral therapy
g) Self help groups
*Alzheimer’s Disease Education Center
*U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
*Alzheimer’s Association © 2008
http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/causes.asp
http://www.allaboutdepression.com/gen_01.html
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2003/gene-more-than-doubles-risk-of-depression-following-lifestresses.shtml
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2005/depression-gene-may-weaken-mood-regulating-circuit.shtml
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=3http://www.bipolargenes.org/
http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/bipolar/causes_4.asp
http://www.genomeweb.com/issues/news/145559
1.htmlhttp://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-publication.shtml
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8572&feedId=online-news_rss20
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/53345.phphttp://ago.mobile.globeandmail.com/generated/arch
ive/RTGAM/html/20080311/wgenes1103.html