Alzheimers Disease

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Research on the possible effective medication or cure for the disease is ongoing, but there is still no cure as of now. Medication to lessen the symptoms such as confusion and memory loss are available (Fall 2014 – Alzheimer’s Disease). Those endorsed by the food and drug administration are two neurotransmitters acetylcholine and glutamate. It is an important brain neurotransmitter and helps neurons to communicate. These medications cannot slow down the progress of the disease or reverse the effects. The disease usually damages the neurons that produce glutamate and acetylcholine neurotransmitters resulting in early cognitive signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors reduce the breakdown of acetylcholine hence improve the patient’s attention and memory by increasing neurotransmitter levels at the synapse. Cholinesterase inhibitors approved by food and drug administration are donepezil, rivastigmine and galantine (Fall 2014 – Alzheimer’s disease). Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter. At normal levels, it boosts learning ability and memory while at low levels, it causes excitotoxicity a condition where the cells get overstimulated and may die as a result. Memantine, a glutamate receptor antagonist is used alongside cholinesterase inhibitors for lessening the severity of the symptoms and improving attention, language and listening. These drugs have side effects such as headache which is most common adverse effect, gastro intestinal problems, confusion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and lightheartedness. Clinical trials are being done by recruiting volunteers with the diseases both Alzheimer’s disease as well as mild cognitive impairment in attempts to get an effective medication.

There are several resources which can provide information on the disease and offer assistance to those with the disease depending on their location. Some of the places one can get assistance is (Alzheimer’s association, telephone 800272-3900), Alzheimer’s referral center, brightfocus foundation, America Alzheimer’s foundation, and international Alzheimer’s disease. Other resources include: (a) find professional services, they prove a specialist according to the area you are in ; (b) federal government programs and services; gives free information on the disease, (c)caregiving support by ARCH national respite network Transportation Safety Administration Cares and legal assistance among other services for helping those living with the disease.

Since Alzheimer’s diseases was described for the first time approximately a millennium ago, a lot is known about the biology and its clinical aspects (Fall 2014 – Alzheimer’s disease). Important attempts have been done to get a clear understanding of mild cognitive impairment as well as dementia, which are all associated with the Alzheimer’s disease. The possibility of getting a cure for the disease is based on level knowledge about the biology of the disease and the use of optimal biomarkers for purposes of early diagnosis.

Reference

"Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer's Association." Alz.Org, 2017, http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp.

"Fall 2014 – Alzheimer’s Disease: A Clinical And Basic Science Review." Medical Student Research Journal, 2017, http://www.msrj.chm.msu.edu/fall-2014-24/