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Alzheimers

rome, and a genetic mutation.

Familial AlzheimerÆs disease accounts for approximately 10 percent of cases, and some of these patients develop symptoms before age 40 (Gale, 2001). The early onset genes are found on chromosomes 1, 14, and 21, and are termed presenilins. The gene on chromosome 14 appears to be primarily responsible for early onset AlzheimerÆs disease, which has a more rapid course. The presenilin on chromosome 1 seems to be responsible for AlzheimerÆs of later onset, with a more protracted course. Recently, genetic studies have shown that the gene for apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a protein which moves cholesterol in the bloodstream and can bind to amyloid beta-protein, can affect the chances of getting AlzheimerÆs disease. There are three forms of ApoE - ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4. They are normally occurring variants, and it has been found that the inheritance of ApoE4 increases the risk and lowers the age of onset of the disease, and inheritance of ApoE2 decreases the risk and raises the age of onset. The gene is considered a susceptibility gene.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four drugs for treating AlzheimerÆs disease (Growdon, The Search, 2002). These drugs, tacrine (Cognex), donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Reminyl), are all acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, designed to increase levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. A deficiency of acetylcholine is believed to be responsible for the memory loss in AlzheimerÆs disease. Only about 30 percent to 50 percent of patients show benefits from these drugs, and they do not slow the progression of the disease, though they sometimes temporarily improve memory and cognitive functions. The FDA has just recommended the use of memantine HCl (Namenda) for the treatment of moderate to severe AlzheimerÆs disease (FDA, 2003). It is the first of a new

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Alzheimers. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 18:09, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1708812.html