Transcript Alzheimer`s and Medications used to treat it

Alzheimer’s and Medications
used to treat it
KATHERINE NOONAN
BME 281
What is Alzheimer’s?
 Brain cells degenerate and die
 Causes progressive loss of intellectual and social
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skills and interferes with day to day life
Also a steady decline in memory and mental function
Normally occurs in older people
Caused by beta-amyloid clumps preventing cell to
cell communication
Caused by tangles of tau protein therefore disrupting
the transport system
Brief History
 1906- German doctor Alois Alzheimer identified the
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disease
1960’s- link between cognitive decline and the
number of plaques and tangles in the brain
1970’s- Alzheimer’s came out as a significant area of
research
Aricept FDA approved in 1996
Razadyne FDA approved in 2001
Exelon FDA approved in 2000
Namenda FDA approved in October, 2003
Medications
 Aricept (Donepezil)- Cholinesterase inhibitor, prevents the
breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain, improves mental
function
 Razadyne (Galantamine)- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor,
prevents breakdown of acetylcholine and stimulates nicotinic
receptors to release more acetylcholine in the brain, improves
memory and thought processes
 Exelon (Rivastigmine)- Cholinesterase inhinitor, prevents
breakdown of acetylcholine and butyrylcholine in the brain
improves mental function. Also used to treat dementia in
Parkinson’s patients
 Namenda (Memantine)- NMDA receptor antagonists, protects
the brain's nerve cells against excess amounts of glutamate, a
messenger chemical released in large amounts by cells
damaged by Alzheimer's
Limitations
 There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, these drugs only
treat symptoms and help slow the degradation of
brain cells
 Alzheimer’s patients are also instructed to take
multiple medications for mood swings, anxiety,
depression, etc.
 Multiple side effects for each drug
Future
 Vaccinations: a new study showed that injecting the
patient with beta-amyloid can produce antibodies
against the protein reducing the acclamation
 Inhibiting drugs that prevent an enzyme from
producing amyloid protein, called PBT2, without
interfering with the enzymes other functions
Citations
 http://www.ahaf.org/alzheimers/about/understandi
ng/history.html
 http://www.ahaf.org/alzheimers/treatment/commo
n/
 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alzheimersdisease/DS00161/DSECTION=causes
 Pubmed health:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001006/
 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001066/
 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000190/
 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000250/
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