ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Seminar Presentation by:
Syeda Hafsa Fatima
1703199882023
PHARM-D 5th Year
MESCO COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
What is
Alzheimer's disease
?
Alzheimer's disease is a brain
disorder that gets worse over
time. It's characterized by
changes in the brain that
lead to deposits of certain
proteins.It causes the brain to
shrink and brain cells to
eventually die. Alzheimer's
disease is the most common
cause of dementia — a
gradual decline in memory,
thinking, behavior and social
skills.
Symptoms:
Memory loss:
Memory loss is the key symptom of Alzheimer's disease. Early signs include difficulty remembering recent
events or conversations. But memory gets worse and other symptoms develop as the disease progresses.
People with Alzheimer's disease may:
1. Repeat statements and questions over and over.
2. Forget conversations, appointments or events.
3. Misplace items, often putting them in places that don't make sense.
Making judgments and decisions :
It may become harder for someone to respond to everyday problems. For example, the person may not
know how to handle food burning on the stove or decisions when driving.
Planning and performing familiar tasks:
Routine activities that require completing steps in order become a struggle. This may include planning and
cooking a meal or playing a favorite game. Eventually, people with advanced Alzheimer's disease forget
how to do basic tasks such as dressing and bathing.
Other symptoms may include the following:
Depression.
Loss of interest in activities.
Social withdrawal.
Mood swings.
Distrust in others.
Anger or aggression.
Changes in sleeping habits.
Wandering.
Loss of inhibitions.
Delusions, such as believing something has been stolen.
Preserved skills
• The exact causes of Alzheimer's disease
aren't fully understood. But at a basic
level, brain proteins fail to function as
usual. This disrupts the work of brain
cells, also called neurons, and triggers a
series of events. The neurons become
damaged and lose connections to each
other. They eventually die.
• Scientists believe that for most people,
Alzheimer's disease is caused by a
combination of genetic, lifestyle and
CAUSES : environmental factors that affect the
brain over time.
• The development of the disease begins
years before the first symptoms. The
damage most often starts in the region of
the brain that controls memory. The loss
of neurons spreads in a somewhat
predictable pattern to other regions of
the brain. By the late stage of the
disease, the brain has shrunk
significantly.
Risk factors :
• Age
ncreasing age is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer's
disease. Alzheimer's isn't a part of typical aging. But as you grow
older, the chances of developing it increases.
• Family history and genetics
The risk of developing Alzheimer's is somewhat higher if a first-
degree relative — your parent or sibling — has the disease. Just
how genes among families affect the risk is largely unexplained,
and the genetic factors are likely complex.
• Down syndrome
Many people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer's disease.
This is likely related to having three copies of chromosome 21.
Chromosome 21 is the gene involved in the production of the
protein that leads to the creation of beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid
fragments can become plaques in the brain. Symptoms tend to
appear 10 to 20 years earlier in people with Down syndrome than
they do for the general population.
• Sex: Overall there are more women with the disease because
they tend to live longer than men.
• Mild cognitive impairment
• However, people with MCI have a significant
risk of developing dementia. When MCI
affects mainly memory, the condition is more
likely to progress to dementia due to
Alzheimer's disease.
• Other cause include:
• Head trauma
• Air pollution
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Poor sleep patterns
• Lifestyle and heart health
Complications
• As Alzheimer's disease moves into
its last stages, brain changes begin
to affect physical functions. The
changes can affect the ability to
swallow, balance, and control bowel
and bladder movements.
These effects can lead to other health
problems such as:
• Inhaling food or liquid into the lungs.
• Flu, pneumonia and other infections.
• Falls.
• Fractures.
• Bedsores.
• Poor nutrition or dehydration.
• Constipation or diarrhea.
• Dental problems such as mouth
sores or tooth decay.
Management and
Treatment:
Pharmacological treatment:
There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but certain
medications can temporarily slow the worsening of
dementia symptoms.
Beginning treatment as early as possible for Alzheimer’s
could help maintain daily functioning for a while. However,
current medications won’t stop or reverse AD.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved
two types of drugs to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s
disease:
Cholinesterase inhibitors.
NMDA antagonists.
The FDA has given accelerated approval for aducanumab ,
the first disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.
The medication helps to reduce amyloid deposits in your
brain.
• Cholinesterase inhibitors:
The following cholinesterase inhibitors can help treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease:
• Donepezil (This is also FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe AD.)
• Rivastigmine
• Galantamine
These drugs work by blocking the action of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for destroying
acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of the chemicals that help nerve cells communicate. Researchers believe
that reduced levels of acetylcholine cause some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
These drugs can improve some memory problems and reduce some behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s
disease.
• NMDA antagonists
Memantine is FDA-approved for treating moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. It helps keep certain brain
cells healthier.
Studies have shown that people with Alzheimer’s who take memantine perform better in common activities of
daily living such as eating, walking, toileting, bathing and dressing.
• Non-Pharmacological treatment:
If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you can take steps to keep
them comfortable in their environment and help manage behavior changes. You can:
• Maintain a familiar environment for them. Don’t change the layout or organization of their
living space.
• Monitor their comfort.
• Provide comfort objects, such as a favorite stuffed animal or blanket.
• Try to redirect their attention if they’re under stress.
• Try to avoid confrontation.
No medication has been approved for the management of behavioral symptoms in
Alzheimer’s dementia.
