In Partial Fulfillment of the secondary courses
Requirements for graduation
S.Y 2007-2008
This Research Study is presented to the School’s Academic Affairs, Researchers’ and Curriculum of Mary Immaculate Academy
of Quezon City
Title: “Cause and Effect o Alzheimer’s Disease”
Presented By:
Hazzel Mae Mejias Cutora
IV-St. Mary
Presented to:
Ms. Joan Dia dela Cruz
March 3, 2008
Approval sheet
The research paper attached hereto entitled “Cause & Effect of Alzheimer’s disease” and submitted by Hazzel Mae Mejias Cutora in a partial fulfillment of the requirement for graduation is hereby accepted.
______________________
Mrs. Malou O. Ongoco
Asst. Principal H.S Department
Accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduating in secondary level.
___ ________________
Joan Dia Dela Cruz
Research Teacher
contents
| | Pages |
| Approval sheet........................................................... | i |
| TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................... | ii |
| Acknowledgement..................................................... | iii |
| CHAPTER | |
| | | |
| 1 THE PROBLEMS AND ITS BACKGROUND | 1 |
| | |
| Statement of the problem............................................. | 4 |
| Theoretical/Conceptual framework........................... | 5 |
| Hypotheses..................................................................... | 8 |
| Significance of the study.............................................. | 9 |
| Scope & limitations of the study................................... | 10 |
| Definitions of key terms.................................................. | 10 |
| General organization & coverage of the study......... | 12 |
| | |
| 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE | 15 |
| | |
| Related Reading............................................................ | 15 |
| Related Literature........................................................... | 21 |
| Related Studies............................................................... | 31 |
| Justification of the present study.................................. | 32 |
| | |
| 3 METHODOLOGY | 39 |
| | |
| Research Design............................................................. | 39 |
| Locale & Population...................................................... | 40 |
| Description of Respondents.......................................... | 40 |
| Sampling Design............................................................ | 41 |
| Random Sampling.......................................................... | 41 |
| Statistical treatment....................................................... | 41 |
| Instrumentation and Try-out Phase.............................. | 42 |
| | |
| 4 RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION | 44 |
| | |
| 5 SUMMARY,CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS | 49 |
| | |
| Bibliography Curriculum Vitae | |
|
|
|
|
|
Acknowledgement
I, Hazzel Mae Mejias Cutora would like to acknowledge or thank with gratitude to the following persons without their help and support this study would not be made possible.
First of all, I would like to give thanks our Lord God Almighty, who gave me courage, strength, knowledge and wisdom in order to attain in my goal and making all things possible.
Next, I want to thank also to my parents, brother, sister and relatives who encouraging me to finish this research study and helped me become the person I am today. Especially to my Mother Analiza C. Kawataki who is my inspiration in all of the school works that I am doing. For the people who guided and helping me out, thank you so much.
Thanks to Miss Joan Dia dela Cruz as our subject teacher in thesis who’s willing to help me .For her advices, suggestions and guidance for making this study.
To my friends, for –Hardvard- thanks a lot for accepting me as whom I am.
I love you all.
Finally, I would like to thank all persons who especially all the authors who have contributed to the finishing of this study; for without helping her I our own little ways this study would not be possible.
-- Hazzel Mae Mejias Cutora
Chapter 1
The problem and its background
Introduction
Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to
carry out daily activities. The most common form of dementia among
older people is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which initially involves the parts
of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
Although scientists are learning more every day, right now they still do
not know what causes AD, and there is no cure. Scientists think that as
many as 4.5 million Americans suffer from AD. The disease usually begins
after age 60, and risk goes up with age. While younger people also may
get AD, it is much less common. About 5 percent of men and women
ages 65 to 74 have AD, and nearly half of those age 85 and older may
have the disease. It is important to note, however, that AD is not a normal
part of aging.
AD is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German doctor. In 1906, Dr.
Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died
of an unusual mental illness. He found abnormal clumps (now called
amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary
tangles). Today, these plaques and tangles in the brain are considered
signs of AD. Scientists also have found other brain changes in people with
AD. Nerve cells die in areas of the brain that are vital to memory and
other mental abilities, and connections between nerve cells are
disrupted. There also are lower levels of some of the chemicals in the brain
that carry messages back and forth between nerve cells. AD may impair
thinking and memory by disrupting these messages.
One theory is that they block nerve cells’ ability to communicate with
each other, making it difficult for the cells to survive.
Autopsies have shown that most people develop some plaques and
tangles as they age, but people with Alzheimer’s develop far more than
those who do not develop the disease. Scientists still don’t know why
some people develop so many compared to others. However, several risk
factors for Alzheimer’s disease have been uncovered.
Advancing age is the number one risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s
disease. One out of eight people over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s
disease, and almost one out of every two people over the age of 85 has
Alzheimer’s. The probability of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s nearly
doubles every five years after age 65.
People who have a parent or sibling that developed Alzheimer’s disease
are two to three times more likely to develop the disease than those with
no family history of Alzheimer’s. If more than one close relative has been
affected, the risk increases even more.
Scientists have identified two kinds of genes that are associated with this
familial risk factor. The first is thought to be a “risk gene,” APOE-e4, that
increases the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s, but does not
guarantee it. In addition to APOE-e4, scientists think there could be up to
a dozen more risk genes yet to be discovered.
The second kind of gene is a “deterministic gene” and is much rarer than
risk genes. Deterministic genes are only found in a few hundred extended
families around the world. If a deterministic gene is inherited, the person
will undoubtedly develop Alzheimer’s, probably at a much earlier age.
Although age and family history are out of our control, scientists have also
identified several lifestyle factors that can influence a person’s risk of
developing Alzheimer’s disease. A connection has been found between
serious head injury and future development of Alzheimer’s, so those who
practice safety measures such as wearing seat belts and not engaging in
activities where there is a high risk of falling are at an advantage.
Evidence is also mounting for the promotion of exercise and a healthy
diet to reduce Alzheimer’s risk. Avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol
consumption, staying socially active, and engaging in intellectually
stimulating activities have also been shown to have a protective effect
against Alzheimer’s disease.
Finally, there is a strong link between heart health and brain health. Those
who are free of heart disease or related conditions are at a lower risk of
developing Alzheimer’s or another kind of dementia than those who have
cardiovascular problems.
Statement of the Problem
This research aimed to determine the Cause and Effect of Alzheimer’s Disease.
AD develops slowly and is difficult to diagnose. Cognitive deficits
vary between patients, and correlate to the amount of education and
social interaction the patient has experienced in his or her lifetime. Poor
performance on an IQ test, for example, may reflect a lower level of
education, and not Alzheimer's disease. Thus it is necessary to have a well-
documented patient history (mental as well as physical) and this is not
always available.
it is difficult to obtain accurate histochemical information, which
would require observation of brain samples during different phases of
the disease. However, neurological biopsies are ethically questionable,
and brain dissection can only be performed post-mortem.
The goal of AD research is ultimately to identify the most effective
strategies for preventing and treating AD in diverse populations.
Recent research findings have provided an unprecedented base of
knowledge upon which to design these strategies. Research on AD
genetics, on the basic cellular biology of AD-related pathways, the
changes taking place in the brains of persons with mild cognitive
impairment and early.
AD, animal models, and hints of possible risk and protective factors from
epidemiology studies, have all contributed to identification of new
clinical opportunities. These diverse and productive research approaches
will continue to drive the design of innovative pilot studies and full scale
clinical trials that are most likely to yield effective strategies for
preventing and treating AD.
Theoretical/ Conceptual Framework
Discovery supports theory of Alzheimer's disease as form of diabetes
Insulin, it turns out, may be as important for the mind as it is for the body.
Research in the last few years has raised the possibility that Alzheimer’s
memory loss could be due to a novel third form of diabetes.
Now scientists at Northwestern University have discovered why brain insulin
signaling -- crucial for memory formation -- would stop working in
Alzheimer’s disease. They have shown that a toxic protein found in the
brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s removes insulin receptors from nerve
cells, rendering those neurons insulin resistant.
With other research showing that levels of brain insulin and its related
receptors are lower in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, the
Northwestern study sheds light on the emerging idea of Alzheimer’s being
a “type 3” diabetes.
The new findings, published online by the FASEB Journal, could help
researchers determine which aspects of existing drugs now used to treat
diabetic patients may protect neurons from ADDLs and improve insulin
signaling in individuals with Alzheimer’s.
In the brain, insulin and insulin receptors are vital to learning and memory.
When insulin binds to a receptor at a synapse, it turns on a mechanism
necessary for nerve cells to survive and memories to form. That Alzheimer’s
disease may in part be caused by insulin resistance in the brain has
scientists asking how that process gets initiated.
“We found the binding of ADDLs to synapses somehow prevents insulin
receptors from accumulating at the synapses where they are needed,”
said William L. Klein, professor of neurobiology and physiology in the
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, who led the research team.
“Instead, they are piling up where they are made, in the cell body, near
the nucleus. Insulin cannot reach receptors there. This finding is the first
molecular evidence as to why nerve cells should become insulin resistant
in Alzheimer’s disease.”
ADDLS are small, soluble aggregated proteins. The clinical data strongly
support a theory in which ADDLs accumulate at the beginning of
Alzheimer’s disease and block memory function by a process predicted to
be reversible.
In earlier research, Klein and colleagues found that ADDLs bind very
specifically at synapses, initiating deterioration of synapse function and
causing changes in synapse composition and shape. Now Klein and his
team have shown that the molecules that make memories at synapses –
insulin receptors -- are being removed by ADDLs from the surface
membrane of nerve cells.
“We think this is a major factor in the memory deficiencies caused by
ADDLs in Alzheimer’s brains,” said Klein, a member of Northwestern’s
Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's disease Center. “We’re dealing with
a fundamental new connection between two fields, diabetes and
Alzheimer’s disease, and the implication is for therapeutics. We want to
find ways to make those insulin receptors themselves resistant to the
impact of ADDLs. And that might not be so difficult.”
Using mature cultures of hippocampal neurons, Klein and his team studied
synapses that have been implicated in learning and memory
mechanisms. The extremely differentiated neurons can be investigated at
the molecular level. The researchers studied the synapses and their insulin
receptors before and after ADDLs were introduced.
They discovered the toxic protein causes a rapid and significant loss of
insulin receptors from the surface of neurons specifically on dendrites to
which ADDLs are bound. ADDL binding clearly damages the trafficking of
the insulin receptors, preventing them from getting to the synapses. The
researchers measured the neuronal response to insulin and found that it
was greatly inhibited by ADDLs.
“In addition to finding that neurons with ADDL binding showed a virtual
absence of insulin receptors on their dendrites, we also found that
dendrites with an abundance of insulin receptors showed no ADDL
binding,” said co-author Fernanda G. De Felice, a visiting scientist from
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro who is working in Klein’s lab. “These
factors suggest that insulin resistance in the brains of those with
Alzheimer’s is a response to ADDLs.”
“With proper research and development the drug arsenal for type 2
diabetes, in which individuals become insulin resistant, may be translated
to Alzheimer’s treatment,” said Klein. “I think such drugs could supercede
currently available Alzheimer’s drugs.”
Hypothesis:
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and fatal brain disease.
Significance of the Study
I made this research to inform the people what Alzheimer’s disease is, and
what causes the Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is conditions that
cause memory loss. I want to help the people to know about this disorder
all about. Alzheimer’s disease is a brain condition in which it affects the
brain and memory. The people who will be reading with my thesis will
understand better on what I am saying about this topic. There are a
number of terms that are crucial to be understanding of Alzheimer’s
disease This thesis includes the symptoms, the ability to remember things
and recall them at the right time. The treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
on how to cure this disease. In general, Alzheimer disease more frequently
involves deficits in new learning or recent memory.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among
older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's
ability to carry out daily activities. The researcher as this will inform people
how important having an Alzheimer’s disease, not only elders individual
but also young people.
Scope and Limitations
This study focused on the cause and effect of Alzheimer’s disease among
elders and also young people. Alzheimer’s disease eventually affects all
aspects of a person's life: how he or she thinks and acts. Since individuals
are affected differently, it is difficult to predict the symptoms each person
will have, the order in which they will appear, or the speed of the disease's
progression.
Definition of Key terms
Plaques – deposits of the protein beta-amyloid that accumulate in the
spaces between nerve cells
Tangles – deposits of the protein tau that accumulate inside of nerve
Cells
Insulin- is an animal hormone whose presence informs the body's cells
that the animal is well fed, causing liver and muscle cells to take in
glucose and store it in the form of glycogen, and causing fat cells to
take in blood lipids and turn them into triglycerides. In addition it has
several other anabolic effects throughout the body.
Diabetes mellitus -is a syndrome characterized by disordered
metabolism and inappropriately high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
resulting from either low levels of the hormone insulin or from abnormal
resistance to insulin's effects coupled with inadequate levels of insulin
secretion to compensate abnormal clumps (now called
amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillarytangles)
Head injury -is any trauma that leads to injury of the scalp, skull, or brain.
The injuries can range from a minor bump on the skull to serious brain
injury.
Alzheimer's Disease- A progressive, degenerative disease of the brain that
leads to dementia. Many think that Alzheimer's disease and dementia are
the same thing, but Alzheimer's is actually the most common cause of
dementia. While everyone who has Alzheimer's develops dementia, not
everyone who develops dementia has Alzheimer's disease.
AD- is an abbreviation of “Alzheimer's Disease”.
Dementia- A general term that describes a brain syndrome characterized
by problems with memory, judgment, language, orientation, and
dementia, but dementia can also be caused by strokes, Parkinson's
disease, head injury, or a host of other conditions -- very few of which are
reversible.
ADDL - the protein, known to attack memory-forming synapses, is called an ADDL for “amyloid ß-derived diffusible ligand.”)
ADDLS - are small, soluble aggregated proteins.
The Alzheimer’s Disease Association of the Philippines (ADAP)-
founded in March 2000 and a member of the Alzheimer’s Disease
International in 2002, is an organization composed of persons with
dementia and their family caregivers, dedicated doctors with special
interest in dementia, allied –medical professionals and others involved
in the care of patients. It is the mission of ADAP to assist families
through educational programs and support services to optimize quality
of life for afflicted individuals and their families; to raise awareness
about dementia; to promote advocacy for elderly quality care; and to
support research in dementia
General Organization and coverage of the study
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of neurodegenerative
disorder in the aging population, with dementia as a common
consequence. AD is defined pathologically by the appearance of
extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, as
described by Alois Alzheimer about a century ago. The causes for AD
include genetic predisposition in a small population, aging and
environmental stresses in majority cases. The underlying pathogenic
cascades, increases in expression of amyloid precursor protein and and
reactive oxidant activity and inflammation, havebaccumulation of A the
features of both adaptive, at least initially, and harmful when becoming
excessive.
Dementia, on the other hand, is a clinical diagnosis and is defined as
globally, persistently impaired cognitive skills including memory. Alzheimer
dementia refers to clinical dementia in patients who also have Alzheimer
neuropathology. Alzheimer dementia is what brings the patients to seek
medical treatments. An extraordinary inability to form new memory,
especially of those episodic type, and executive dysfunction are among
the earliest symptoms in AD patients. In end-stage AD, cognitive
degeneration extends far beyond memory loss. The underlying causes
include decreases in impaired brain metabolism, which results in impaired
synaptic functions and capacities, thus impaired information processing,
and eventually leads to neuronal injury and death.
Early-stage is the early part of Alzheimer’s disease when problems with
memory, thinking and concentration may begin to appear in a doctor’s
interview or medical tests. Individuals in the early-stage typically need
minimal assistance with simple daily routines. At the time of a diagnosis, an
individual is not necessarily in the early stage of the disease; he or she may
have progressed beyond the early stage.
The term early-onset refers to Alzheimer's that occurs in a person under
age 65. Early-onset individuals may be employed or have children still
living at home. Issues facing families include ensuring financial security,
obtaining benefits and helping children cope with the disease. People
who have early-onset dementia may be in any stage of dementia – early,
middle or late. Experts estimate that some 500,000 people in their 30s, 40s
and 50s have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Foreign Literature
All too frequently, people are discovering that a grandparent, parent,
elderly relative, or friend can no longer remember names or faces,
recognize common objects, or talk in coherent sentences. This person
may be suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Alzheimer's disease is a
growing medical and social concern. Zaven Khachaturian and Teresa
Radebaugh, in their 1996 book Alzheimer's disease: Cause(s), Diagnosis,
Treatment, and Care, state that AD strikes more than 4 million people in
the United States alone and affects millions more who suffer from
watching a loved one afflicted with the disease. In the last 30 years, AD
has become a hot topic in both the medical and non-medical
communities.
Khachaturian and Radebaugh describe AD as a "degenerative disorder
that attacks the brain and leads to dementia." The brain's cognitive
centers are affected, causing memory loss and the inability to understand
situations or even questions or statements. As the disease progresses,
social interactions diminish, and the afflicted person loses the ability to
care for him or herself.
The duration of AD, from onset to death, ranges from two to 20 years.
Symptoms of AD will often become noticeable between the ages of 65
and 85, becoming more prevalent as the person grows older and the
disease progresses. Although rare, AD can manifest as early as age 45,
and is termed "early onset" Alzheimer's disease when it occurs before 65.
Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes AD. There probably is
not one single cause, but several factors that affect each person
differently. Age is the most important known risk factor for AD. The number
of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65.
Family history is another risk factor. Scientists believe that genetics may
play a role in many AD cases. For example, early-onset familial AD, a rare
form of AD that usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, is inherited.
The more common form of AD is known as late-onset. It occurs later in life,
and no obvious inheritance pattern is seen in most families. However,
several risk factor genes may interact with each other and with non-
genetic factors to cause the disease. The only risk factor gene identified
so far for late-onset AD is a gene that makes one form of a protein called
apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Everyone has ApoE, which helps carry
cholesterol in the blood. Only about 15 percent of people have the form
that increases the risk of AD. It is likely that other gene
also may increase the risk of AD or protect against AD, but they remain to
be discovered.
Scientists still need to learn a lot more about what causes AD.
In addition to genetics and ApoE, they are studying education, diet, and
environment to learn what role they might play in the development of this
disease. Scientists are finding increasing evidence that some of the risk
factors.
AD begins slowly. At first, the only symptom may be mild forgetfulness,
which can be confused with age-related memory change. Most people
with mild forgetfulness do not have AD. In the early stage of AD, people
may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of
familiar people or things. They may not be able to solve simple math
problems. Such difficulties may be a bother, but usually they are not
serious enough to cause alarm.
However, as the disease goes on, symptoms are more easily noticed and
become serious enough to cause people with AD or their family members
to seek medical help. Forgetfulness begins to interfere with daily activities.
People in the middle stages of AD may forget how to do simple tasks like
brushing their teeth or combing their hair. They can no longer think clearly.
They can fail to recognize familiar people and places. They begin to
have problems speaking, understanding, reading, or writing. Later on,
people with AD may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away
from home. Eventually, patients need total care.
An early, accurate diagnosis of AD helps patients and their families plan
for the future. It gives them time to discuss care while the patient can still
take part in making decisions. Early diagnosis will also offer the best
chance to treat the symptoms of the disease.
Today, the only definite way to diagnose AD is to find out whether there
are plaques and tangles in brain tissue. To look at brain tissue, however,
doctors usually must wait until they do an autopsy, which is an
examination of the body done after a person dies. Therefore, doctors can
only make a diagnosis of “possible” or “probable” AD while the person is
still alive.
At specialized centers, doctors can diagnose AD correctly up to 90
percent of the time. Doctors use several tools to diagnose “probable” AD, including:
- questions about the person’s general health, past medical
problems, and ability to carry out daily activities,
- tests of memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and
language,
- medical tests—such as tests of blood, urine, or spinal fluid, and
Sometimes these test results help the doctor find other possible causes of
the person’s symptoms.
For example, thyroid problems, drug reactions, depression, brain tumors,
and blood vessel disease in the brain can cause AD-like symptoms. Some
of these other conditions can be treated successfully.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of
Health (NIH), is the lead Federal agency for AD research. NIA-supported
scientists are testing a number of drugs to see if they prevent AD, slow the
disease, or help reduce symptoms. Researchers undertake clinical trials to
learn whether treatments that appear promising in observational and
animal studies actually are safe and effective in people. Some ideas that
seem promising turn out to have little or no benefit when they are
carefully studied in a clinical trial.
Scientists are finding that damage to parts of the brain involved in
memory, such as the hippocampus, can sometimes be seen on brain
scans before symptoms of the disease occur. An NIA public-private
partnership—the AD Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)—is a large study that
will determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron
emission tomography (PET) scans, or other imaging or biological markers,
can see early AD changes or measure disease progression. The project is
designed to help speed clinical trials and find new ways to determine
the effectiveness of treatments.
Cholesterol is widely blamed for causing Alzheimer's disease. Yet little is
known about the relationship between cholesterol and Alzheimer's, and
one hypothesis, described below, is that cholesterol protects the brain
from Alzheimer's. It is unsurprising that, when one of the most booming
industries is the sale of cholesterol-lowering drugs, just about every disease
under the sun would be pinned to cholesterol. The more diseases blamed
on cholesterol, the more profits generated by the sale of cholesterol-
lowering drugs.
But is it true that cholesterol causes Alzheimer's disease? Or, on the other
hand, could you actually harm your brain by reducing its cholesterol
content through drugs or a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet? And if cholesterol
isn't to blame, what does cause Alzheimer's, and what is the best way to
protect ourselves from it? Headlines blaming cholesterol for Alzheimer's
disease abound. A Google search for "cholesterol and the brain" turns up
such titles as "Cholesterol central to brain disease," and "Cholesterol bad
for brain, too." One study bragged that by using stains, cholesterol-
lowering drugs, medical researchers could reduce the amount of
cholesterol in the brains of Alzheimer's patients with normal cholesterol
levels by an average of 21.4 percent. Without studying whether this drop
in cholesterol resulted in improved memory or other cognitive effects, the
study celebrated the ability to reduce normal levels of brain cholesterol
based on the dubious notion that cholesterol is "involved" in the formation
of amyloidal plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
Since the brain, being only 2% of the body's weight, yet containing a full
25% of its cholesterol, relies on cholesterol as so necessary and central to
its function, it is not very surprising that cholesterol would be "involved" in
any brain disorder.
Local Literature
A terrifying disease indeed, Alzheimer's has to this date caused confusion
and much speculation in the medical world. What is Alzheimer's? How
does it occur? How can it be detected? Who is most susceptible to
contract it? All of these are common questions doctors and medical
researchers ponder on; questions that are investigate the fundamental
roots of Alzheimer's [as well as other diseases]. With these questions being
unanswered, it can be only known that Alzheimer's exists and takes over
the lives of approximately 4% of Philippines‘s elderly population every year
with the number on the rise.
Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that is growing in numbers every single
year. People over the age of 65 are the ones that need to worry most
about getting it, yet some people that are younger can still get it. This
disease is a terrible disease and can be scary and frustrating. Doctors
have a very difficult time diagnosing it because there are so many things
that are similar to this disease. This disease not only destroys the lives of the
victims, but also can ruin the lives of the people that take care of them. At
this time there is not a cure, but many scientists are working very hard to
find a cure for this terrible disease. Today there are almost 2 million Filipinos
that suffer from Alzheimer's disease. It is estimated that this disease will
claim 14 million victims by the year 2050. Experts believe this because of
greater life expectancy . Meanwhile, almost 4 percent of
Filipinos between the ages of 65 to 74 will get this disease. For the people
between the ages of 75 through 84 it is expected to strike ten percent,
and people over the age of 85 have a 17 percent chance of contracting
this horrifying disease. It can also strike the lives of people in their forties or
fifties, although this is not that common. Undeniably, Alzheimer's is an
extremely terrible disease to get because one loses memory, self-pride,
and independence to care for one's self. Because so little information is
known about this disease by the public and even medical experts, it is
described as a "silent disease".
In 1906 a German psychiatrist and neuropathologies by the name of Dr.
Alois Alzheimer discovered and named this disease. He had a female
patient that was experiencing memory loss, confusion, depression, and
hallucinations. She died in a nursing home at the age of 55. Dr. Alzheimer
wanted to conduct an autopsy to see if he could figure out exactly what
had caused her mysterious death. He discovered "two startling
abnormalities, inside and outside the brain cells." Tissue lying inside the cell
bodies or nuclei of neurons exhibited an abnormally high number of fine
nerve fibers or filaments, twisted around each other. He called these
twisted fibers neurofibrillary tangles. He also saw unusually high numbers of
fibrous plaques located between brain cells, composed of degenerating
terminal dendrites or burned out nerve endings that surrounded fibrous
amyloid protein. These abnormalities were known as senile or neuritic
plaques. Today there are many different theories of what causes
Alzheimer's. Some experts believe that the intake of too much aluminum
may play an important role in what causes Alzheimer's, although there is
no evidence yet .Others believe that there are "three genes that are
somehow part of the problem". Yet other scientists suspect that it could be
some sort of viral defect). Some scientists even believe that head trauma
may be the cause of this horrifying disease. Some studies showed that
people who have had head injuries in the past get this disease more than
people who have not had any head injuries. It may also be possible that
Alzheimer's disease is hereditary and passed on through the genes. Some
scientists believe that the amount of mitochondria in the cells may play an
important role in what causes Alzheimer's disease. They have found that
8.3 percent of Alzheimer's patients had a "mitochondrial DNA mutation."
This can possibly leave the brain cells "starved of energy," and in turn
cause them to die.
Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that leaves its victims confused,
disoriented, and dependent on others. It is hard for the victims to even
realize that they have the disease in the early stages. Relatives or close
friends of the victim may not even realize what is happening because it is
so gradual. They may think that the victim is acting the way they are due
to old age. The first stage of Alzheimer's can last anywhere from two to
four years. The first thing that starts to happen is usually memory loss;
victims may forget events or names. They may also have a hard time
concentrating on something or learning new things .Then they may
become confused and disoriented. Victims might get lost and forget the
day, month, and year easily. The person may have a difficult time
completing sentences when talking. He or she may be unable to follow
directions. Victims can also have a difficult time completing familiar tasks
such as cooking, cleaning, and performing their job. The victim's mood
changes and this leads to depression. Last of all they may neglect their
personal hygiene, such as brushing their teeth or taking a bath . In the
early stages of Alzheimer's there is a gradual loss of mental and physical
abilities . The victims seem to suffer physical damage to some parts of their
brain . This damage to the brain is in the form of lesions, "abnormal
changes in the brain cells themselves." Lesions can only be observed
clearly during an autopsy of the brain . These lesions are usually found in
the limbic system or other parts of the brain that help in the controlling of
memory and learning. The presence of lesions somehow disturb brain
cells, and in turn cause one to lose one's memory .
As previously stated, Alzheimer's is an extremely difficult disease to
recognize or diagnose in the early stages. Other illnesses are similar in the
way that they affect the brain and some mental disorders are also similar.
Mental confusion, irrational behavior, and loss of memory is classified
under dementia . For a doctor to find out if a patient has Alzheimer's he
must find a way to rule out possibilities of the patient having some other
"dementing illness." The doctor asks various questions about the person's
general health and present condition to help in ruling out other
"dementing illnesses" . The second stage of Alzheimer's leaves the victims
basically helpless. Their behavior can become extremely unpredictable in
some people. This stage can last from two to ten years. The victims have
continued and progressive memory loss which can make it impossible for
them to remember past and even current events .The victims may
become severely disoriented and confused. He or she may lose the ability
to recognize loved ones and even their own reflection. The victims might
wander away and get lost. The victims become unable to express
themselves and to complete sentences. They go through mood swings
and personality changes which are usually short lived. The victim may
wander around at night or repeat movements over and over. They suffer
from behavior problems and can have hallucinations. Sometimes they
hide things and then wreck things when they are trying to find the thing
they hid in the first place. Their motor activity becomes impaired and they
may have a tough time buttoning their shirt or tying their shoelace. They
may experience muscle twitching. They may also tend to lose their sense
of balance. Scientists have tried a variety of drugs to cure Alzheimer's
disease, but they have not been successful yet. There have been
hundreds of drugs tested on Alzheimer's patients, but none have been
totally successful.
Most of them were found either ineffective or caused some serious side
effects. Lecithin was one type of drug that was tried but it was found to
be ineffective. However, a drug by the name of tacrine has shown to help
a few people with Alzheimer's disease, but then more in-depth studies
showed that these benefits could not be confirmed. Various medications
may be prescribed to help with any behavior problems that the patient
might have. Medications such as antidepressants or antipsychotic are
sometimes given in small doses to patients in order to control their
behavior problems. It is rather disappointing that scientists have not found
a cure for this disease yet, but they believe that there is still hope that one
day they will find a cure. This disease can be extremely hard to live with if
one does not have any close friends or relatives. Here is a story of a man
named Andrew who had to go through this disease with no one to help
him. Andrew's wife died when he was 65. He retired from his job and
moved to a trailer park.
He did not have any children, and he didn't have any relatives that lived
close by. He also had no friends. No one knew him that well, so when he
started to show some early signs of Alzheimer's disease no one even
noticed. Some of his cousins were surprised that they didn't hear from him
over the holidays, but soon forgot about it because they were so busy
with their own lives. His neighbors started to notice that he didn't dress
neatly anymore, and that he didn't take care of his yard anymore. His
neighbors all thought that someone else should check on Andrew to see if
he needed any help. After about two years he started to wander around
outside. One morning he was found sleeping under a tree a few blocks
from his house. He was very confused and could not tell anyone where he
lived. The family that found him called the police, realizing that Andrew
was ill. They took him to the emergency room at the nearby hospital.
Finally a nurse got him to tell her his name. No relatives or close friends
could be found, so he was admitted to the hospital. He was diagnosed
with having Alzheimer's disease, but the hospital could not find anyone to
take care of him. A social worker also tried, but had no luck. He was sent
to the state mental hospital because he had some financial problems
and could not afford to stay at a nursing home. He had no choice in
deciding this. Andrew soon realized where he was and wanted to get out.
He could not afford it, so he had to stay where he was. Soon a guardian
was found for him, and took care of him until he died five years later. It is
extremely difficult to have Alzheimer's. It can be even more devastating if
the victim is not financially secure. This can make it hard to find a place to
stay. In Andrew's case, he also had no friends or relatives to help him
through it. The victims of this disease are often felt sorry for, but people
usually don't think of the people that take care of the Alzheimer's victim.
It can be very rough on the caretaker in many different ways. There is a
chance that the person taking care of the victim may feel angry or
frustrated. He may be angry that he has to deal with this problem, angry
that other family members fail to do their share. He might be angry at the
Alzheimer's victim for his unusual behavior. The caregiver may feel
embarrassed about the way that the Alzheimer's victim acts around
others that do not understand exactly what is wrong with the victim. The
caretaker may feel guilty about the way that he is acting around the
victim or for using harsh words at the victim when he loses his temper . The
caregiver might be hopeful that there will be some cure for Alzheimer's
sometime soon in the future, but yet discouraged that there is not a cure
right now and the possibility that there may not be a cure for a long time .
Taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer's can be extremely tiring and
even frustrating. It can totally change the way that a person lives his life. A
group called the "Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders
Association(ADRDA)", made up of mostly families of Alzheimer's victims,
helps people to get through the difficulties of being a guardian or
caretaker. This group has meetings at which members can express their
personal feelings and experiences with Alzheimer's victims. They can also
share what they do to deal with the problems that they have
encountered. It also does research to help find the causes of Alzheimer's
and a cure for this disease. This group has recently changed its name to
"Alzheimer's Association" . Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that destroys the
lives of many people and will probably destroy many more as life
expectancy increases. The victims know that the disease will slowly eat
away at the life that they have left inside of them. They also know that
there is no known cure at this time to help them overcome this terrible
disease, so they can live their life like a normal person. Offer from
Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's Disease Association of the Philippines (ADAP) ... Facing the
Challenge of Alzheimer’s Disease: Dementia on the Rise, No Time to Lose.
900 – 1000.
Vision:
We the prime movers in the care of Alzheimer's Disease and Related
Disorders envision:
The Filipino people optimally addressing issues associated with Alzheimer's
Disease and related disorders, being one with the world in continuously
striving for a life that is dignified, productive, and full of hope for patients
and their families.
Mission:
To be in the forefront of increasing the level of awareness for Alzheimer's
Disease and related disorders, creating optimal support services for
patients, their families and caregivers, and providing all available support
to healthcare professionals, individuals, and institutions for the
advancement of research.
Values:
Passion for excellence
- We demand of ourselves the highest standards in every endeavor
we will undertake.
Social Responsibility
- We take an active role in advocating solutions that address the
needs of AD patients, their families, and their healthcare professionals
involving:
- Legislation
- Disease Management Guidelines
- Public Fora and Advocacy Programs
- We are continuously in-touch with the realities in the Philippine setting as it affects the management of AD and related disorders.
- We work in collaboration with other sectors and organizations in addressing issues related to AD and related disorders.
Commitment
- We willingly share precious time, expertise, and resources for the continuous growth of ADAP and realization of its vision.
Innovation
- We continuously explore viable new and alternative approaches in attaining the ADAP Vision.
- We maintain a critical yet an open mind in every undertaking that would lead to the attainment of the ADAP Vision.
Ethical
- We work within the boundaries of acceptable norms and standards and we constantly seek for enlightenment on issues on preservation of the dignity of human life.
Scientific Advancement
- We consciously share, organize, and analyze data for the advancement of the management of AD and related disorders.
- We value the scientific process, identifying and prioritizing research for the attainment of the ADAP Vision.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, which is the
loss of intellectual and social abilities severe enough to interfere with daily
functioning. Dementia occurs in people with Alzheimer's disease because
healthy brain tissue degenerates, causing a steady decline in memory
and mental abilities.
Related Studies
Alzheimer's disease was named after Alois Alzheimer, who was a
psychiatrist with a specialty in neuropathology, and was the first to show
what was going on physically in the brain of someone with what we now
call Alzheimer's. In 1907, he presented his findings from the autopsy of his
patient, Auguste D., who had been admitted to an asylum for "delerium
and frenzied jealousy of her husband."
Alois Alzheimer noted two things about the condition of Auguste's brain, to
which he attributed her mental degeneration: "miliary bodies," which we
now call "amyloid plaques," and "dense bundles of fibrils," which we now
call "neurofibrillary tangles." This was a bold claim at a time when the
connection between the physical and the mental was being explored but
not yet fully accepted, and in 1910, Alzheimer's mentor, Emil Kraepelin,
named the disease after him.1
The amyloid plaques are made up of a peptide (a peptide is a fragment
of a protein) called "beta-amyloid," which is formed by the cleavage of
amyloid precursor protein (APP) by an enzyme called "gamma-secretase."
The tangles, on the other hand, are primarily composed of a protein
called "tau," which forms tangles when it is hyper-phosphorylated. The
plaques exist on the outside of cells, while the tangles exist on the inside of
cells.
Justification of the present study
Alzheimer's disease eventually affects all aspects of a person's life: how he or she thinks and acts. Since individuals are affected differently, it is difficult to predict the symptoms each person will have, the order in which they will appear, or the speed of the disease's progression.
In general the following will be affected by the disease:
(i) Mental abilities
- A person's ability to understand, think, remember and communicate will be affected.
- The ability to make decisions will be reduced.
- Simple tasks that have been performed for years will become more difficult or be forgotten.
- Confusion and memory loss, initially for recent events and eventually for long-term events, will occur.
- The ability to find the right words and follow a conversation will be affected.
(ii) Emotions and moods
- A person may appear uninterested and apathetic, and may quickly lose interest in the hobbies they previously enjoyed.
- The ability to control mood and emotion may be lost.
- Some individuals are less expressive and are more withdrawn.
- However, it is now becoming clear that a person even in the later stages of the disease may continue to feel a range of emotions including joy, anger, fear, love, and sadness.
(iii) Behavior
Changes will develop in the way the person reacts to his or her environment. These actions may seem out of character for the person. Some common reactions include:
- repeating the same action or words
- hiding possessions
- physical outbursts
- restlessness
(iv) Physical abilities
The disease can affect a person's physical co-ordination and mobility, leading to a gradual physical decline. This will affect the person's ability to independently perform day-to-day tasks, such as eating, bathing and getting dressed.
Signs and symptoms
- Increasing and persistent forgetfulness, especially of recent events or simple directions, what begins as mild forgetfulness persists and worsens. People with Alzheimer's routinely misplace things, often putting them in illogical locations. They frequently forget names, and eventually, they may forget the names of family members and everyday objects.
- Difficulties with abstract thinking. People with Alzheimer's may initially have trouble balancing their checkbook, a problem that progresses to trouble recognizing and dealing with numbers.
- Difficulties finding the right word to express thoughts or even follow conversations. Eventually, reading and writing also are affected.
- Disorientation to time and dates. They may find themselves lost in familiar surroundings.
- Loss of judgment. Solving everyday problems, such as knowing what to do if food on the stove is burning, becomes increasingly difficult, eventually impossible.
- Difficulties performing familiar and routine tasks that require sequential steps, such as cooking, become a struggle as the disease progresses. Eventually, forget how to do even the most basic things.
- Personality changes. People with Alzheimer's may exhibit mood swings. They may express distrust in others, show increased stubbornness and withdraw socially.
causes
- There is destruction of brain cells disrupting the transmitters that carry the messages in the brain, particularly those responsible for storing memories.
- The cause of the destruction remains of the cells unknown.
- Studies show that genetic factors play part in the development of the disease.
- The neurotransmitters neither acetylcholine ‘and’ nor epinephrine are hypothesized to be hypoactive in Alzheimer's disease.
risk factors
- Age. Alzheimer's usually affects people older than 65, but can rarely, affect those younger than 40. The average age at diagnosis is about 80. Less than 5 percent of people between 65 and 74 have Alzheimer's. For people 85 and older, that number jumps to nearly 50 percent.
- Heredity. Your risk of developing Alzheimer's appears to be slightly higher if a first-degree relative -parent, sister or brother - has the disease.
- Sex. Women are more likely than men are to develop the disease, in part because they leave longer.
- Lifestyle. The same factors that put you at risk of heart diseases, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, may also increase the likelihood that you'll develop Alzheimer's disease. And, keeping your body fit isn't your only concern - you've got to exercise your mind as well.
- Head injury. The observation that some ex-boxers eventually develop dementia leads to the question of whether serious traumatic injury to the head (for example, with a prolonged loss of consciousness) may be a risk factor for Alzheimer's.
How many suffer?
- 11 million people suffer worldwide
- About 5% of people reaching 65 are affected
- 15-25% of people reaching 85 are affected
- Late stage of disease requires one total dependence and inactivity representing an enormous burden on family and health care delivery
What can be done?
- Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer's Disease
- General treatment approach to patient is to provide supportive medical care, pharmacological treatment for specific symptoms, including disruptive behavior, and emotional support for patients and their families
We all forget things once in a while. Maybe you've forgotten to send a
card for someone's birthday or to return an overdue library book.
Forgetting stuff is a part of life and it often becomes more common as
people age.
But Alzheimer (say: alts-hi-mer) disease, which affects some older people,
is different from everyday forgetting. It is a condition that permanently
affects the brain, and over time, makes it harder to remember even basic
stuff, like how to tie a shoe.
Eventually, the person may have trouble remembering the names and
faces of family members - or even who he or she is. This can be very sad
for the person and their families. It's important to know that Alzheimer
disease does not affect kids. It usually affects people over 65 years of age.
Researchers have found medicines that seem to slow the disease down.
And there's hope that someday there will be a cure.
What Happens in the Brain?
You probably know that your brain works by sending signals. Chemical
messengers, called neurotransmitters (say: nur-oh-trans-mih-terz), allow
brain cells to communicate with each other. But a person with Alzheimer
disease has decreased amounts of neurotransmitters. People with
Alzheimer disease also develop deposits of stuff (protein and fiber) that
prevent the cells from working properly. When this happens, the cells can't
send the right signals to other parts of the brain. Over time, brain cells
affected by Alzheimer disease also begin to shrink and die.
Lots of research is being done to find out more about the causes of
Alzheimer disease. There is no one reason why people get Alzheimer
disease. Older people are more likely to get it, and the risk gets greater
the older the person gets. For instance, the risk is higher for someone who
is 85 than it is for someone who is 65. And women are more likely to get it
than men.
Researchers also think genes handed down from family members can
make a person more likely to get Alzheimer disease. But that doesn't
mean everyone related to someone who has Alzheimer disease will get
the disease. Other factors, combined with genes, may make it more likely
that someone will get the disease. Some of them are high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, Down syndrome, or having a head injury.
On the positive side, researchers believe exercise, a healthy diet, and
taking steps to keep your mind active (like doing crossword puzzles) may
help delay the onset of Alzheimer disease.
How Do People Know They Have It?
The first sign of Alzheimer disease is a continuous pattern of forgetting
things. This starts to affect a person's daily life. He or she may forget where
the grocery store is or the names of family and friends. This stage of the
disease may last for some time or quickly progress, causing memory loss
and forgetfulness to get worse.
What Will the Doctor Do?
It can be hard for a doctor to diagnose Alzheimer disease because many
of its symptoms (like memory problems) can be like those of other
conditions affecting the brain. The doctor will talk to the patient, find out
about any medical problems the person has, and will examine him or her.
The doctor can ask the person questions or have the person take a written
test to see how well his or her memory is working. Doctors also can use
medical tests (such as MRI or CT scans) to take a detailed picture of the
brain. They can study these images and look for the deposits of proteins
and fiber that are typical of Alzheimer disease.
Once a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer disease, the doctor may
prescribe medicine to help with memory and thinking. The doctor also
might give the person medicine for other problems, such as depression
(sad feelings that last a long time). Unfortunately the medicines that the
doctors have can't cure Alzheimer disease; they just help slow down the
disease.
When Someone You Love Has Alzheimer Disease
You might feel sad or angry - or both - if someone you love has Alzheimer
disease. You might feel nervous around the person, especially if he or she
is having trouble remembering important things or can no longer take
care of himself or herself.
You might not want to go visit the person, even though your mom or dad
wants you to. You are definitely not alone in these feelings. Try talking with
a parent or another trusted adult. Just saying what's on your mind may
help you feel better. You also may learn that the adults in your life are
having struggles of their own with the situation.
If you visit a loved one who has Alzheimer disease, try to be patient. He or
she may have good days and bad days. It can be sad if you no longer
are able to have fun in the same ways together. Maybe you and your
grandmother liked to go to concerts. If that's no longer possible, maybe
bring her some wonderful music on a CD and listen together. It's a way to
show her that you care - and showing that love is important even if her
memory is failing.
Chapter III
Research Methodology
Research Design
Being the researcher I employed the descriptive method. This is designed
for the investigator to gather information about present existing
conditions. The goal of Alzheimer’s disease research is ultimately to
identify the most effective strategies for preventing and treating
Alzheimer’s disease in diverse populations. Recent research findings have
provided an unprecedented base of knowledge upon which to design
these strategies. Research on Alzheimer’s disease genetics, on the basic
cellular biology of Alzheimer’s disease -related pathways, the changes
taking place in the brains of persons with mild cognitive impairment and
early Alzheimer’s disease, animal models, and hints of possible risk and
protective factors from epidemiology studies, have all contributed to
identification of new clinical opportunities. This diverse and productive
research approaches will continue to drive the design of innovative pilot
studies and full scale clinical trials that are most likely to yield effective
strategies for preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease.
It is difficult to predict the pace of science or to know with certainty what
the future will bring. However, the progress we have already made will
help us speed the pace of discovery, unravel the mysteries of Alzheimer’s
disease’s pathology, and develop safe, effective preventions and
treatments, to the benefit of older Americans.
Locale & Population
The study was conducted at Mary Immaculate Academy of Quezon City.
The respondents were the high school students from 1st year to 4th year of
MIAQC.
Description of the Respondents
I chose sixty (60) respondents studying in MIAQC. They are aged 12 years
old to 17 years old, male and female, from all walks of life. I considered
the students of MIAQC who were able or unable to answer my survey
questionnaire for more valid reason.
Sampling Design
In order to get the respondents, probability sampling was use. In
probability sampling, the sample is a proportion ( certain %) of the
population and such sample is selected for the population by means of
systematic way in which energy element of the population has a chance
of being included in the sample. In this case, all students of MIAQC were
given equal chances of being selected as my respondents.
Random Sampling
Random sampling is one in which everyone in the population of the
inquiry has an equal chance of being selected to be included in the
sample. This is used if the population has no differentiated levels, sections
or classes. This technique is easy to understand and apply.
Statistical Treatment
Statistics play a vital role in the field applied scientific research. It provides
varied tools and techniques that help the researcher draw valid and
reliable references or generalizations about the population on the basis of
the sample.
The statistical technique that will be used to interpret data, and in testing
the null hypothesis of the study of the Percentage/Relative Frequency. The
formula for
Percentage/Relative Frequency (RF):
RF= (f/n)*100
Where: RF is the relative frequency
f is the frequency
n is the total number of respondents
Instrumentation and Try-out phase
The most important in an inquiry or research is gathering of data. This is
considered as an extremely vital stage in several statistical inquiries. Unless
suitable concern is exercised
in the means data gathered, the consequences could lead to bogus
interpretations. In choosing the sampling technique, the nature of the
problem, the objectives of the researchers, the category of data needed,
and the sources of these data must be considered.
In gathering the data, the researches used the survey interview, with the
aid of questionnaire. Survey is a fact-finding study with adequate and
accurate interpretation used to collect demographic data about
people’s behavior, practices, intentions, beliefs, attitudes, opinions, and
the like and then such data are analyzed, organized and
interpreted. Questionnaire is the most common and widely used method
in gathering data regarding the attitudes and opinions of a group of
persons, through personal interview.
A pretest or try-out phase was conducted to test the questionnaires
validity and if the questions was clearly conducted.
The try-out phase was conducted on January 21-23 2008.
Chapter IV
Presentation, analysis and Interpretation of data
This chapter presents the analysis and interpretation of the gathered data.
I based the interpretation from the responses of the high school students
of MIAQC. The answers were tabulated, by giving each answer its
corresponding percentage.
To obtain the correct tabulation, I included the total number of
respondents and made sure that the total percentage would be equal.
The interpretation of the researcher would be found at the bottom of
every tables and charts. The respondents’ answers to the question were
analyzed and studied carefully and interpreted objectively.
Table 1
Age of the respondents
| Age | Number | Percent |
| 12-13 14-15 16-17 | 23 24 13 | 38% 40% 22% |
Total 60 100%
The table and bar graph shows the distribution of the population by age.
23 out of 60 respondents or 38% belongs to 12-13 age bracket, 24 or 40%
belongs to 14-15 years old; students belonging to 16-17 years old
constituted 22% of the total population.
Table 2
Gender of the respondents
| Gender | Number | Percent |
| Male Female | 22 38 | 37% 63% |
Total 60 100%
The table shows the gender of the respondents 22 of them or 37%
are males and 38 students or 63% are females.
Table 3
Answering the survey questionnaire
This pie shows how the students of MIAQC answer my survey
questionnaire. 70% or 42 students who did answer my survey
questionnaire seriously. 30% or 18 students of MIAQC who DIDN’T answer
my survey questionnaire seriously. You know who you are guys.
I surveyed some high school students of MIAQC and tried to gain data
from their response. These are the questions used in the survey and the
percentage of respondents according to their response.
Table 4
Overall Respondents
| Questions | Number | Percent | Number | Percent |
| Yes | No |
- Do you know what Alzheimer’s disease is? If yes, how? If no, why?
| 51 85% | 9 15% |
- Do you know the effect of Alzheimer’s disease to a person?
| 42 70% | 18 30% |
- Are you familiar with the causes of Alzheimer’s disease?
| 31 52% | 29 48% |
- Where did you get the information about the said topic?
_____ peers _____ books
_____ Internet _____ other (please specify) ____________
| Where did you get the information about the said topic? | Number | Percent |
|
|
|
| Peers | 11 | 18% |
|
| Internet | 10 | 17% |
|
| Books | 17 | 28% |
|
| Others: Relatives, Family members, chart, ads, TV | 22 | 37% |
|
- What was your reaction upon learning about the disease that one of the members of the family and or one of the members of the family of your friends had/ has an Alzheimer’s disease?
The table shows that majority of the respondents knows what Alzheimer’s
disease is, consisting of 51 students or 85% and 9 students or 15% they
don’t know what Alzheimer’s disease is.
42 students or 70% knows the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and 18 or 30%
who doesn’t know the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. 31 or 52% who are
familiar with the causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Majority of the students
get the information about Alzheimer’s disease in their relatives, family
members, charts, ads, and TV.
Their reaction upon learning about the disease that one of the members
of their family and or one of the members of their family of their friends
had/ has an Alzheimer’s disease is that they will help them with everyday
lives. They’re scared to have that kind of disease and some says that they
feel pity because they will forget the happiest moment of their lives. This
signifies that only few of their members of their family and or one of the
members of their family of their friends had/ has an Alzheimer’s disease.
Chapter V
Summary of findings, conclusions, and recommendations
Summary of results and findings
Looking at the profile of the respondents, greater part of them is
aged 14-15.The respondents taken were mostly females, constituting 63%
of their total population.
Majority of the students or respondents get the information about
Alzheimer’s disease in their relatives, family members, charts, ads, and TV.
70% or 42 students who did answer my survey questionnaire seriously. 30%
or 18 students of MIAQC who DIDN’T answer my survey questionnaire
seriously.
Majority of the respondents knows what Alzheimer’s disease is,
consisting of 51 students or 85% and 9 students or 15% they don’t know
what Alzheimer’s disease is. 42 students or 70% knows the effects of
Alzheimer’s disease and 18 or 30% who doesn’t know the effects of
Alzheimer’s disease. 31 or 52% who are familiar with the causes of
Alzheimer’s disease. Majority of the students get the information about
Alzheimer’s disease in their relatives, family members, charts, ads, and TV.
Their reaction upon learning about the disease that one of the members
of their family and or one of the members of their family of their friends
had/ has an Alzheimer’s disease is that they will help them with everyday
lives.
They’re scared to have that kind of disease and some says that they feel
pity because they will forget the happiest moment of their lives. This
signifies that only few of their members of their family and or one of the
members of their family of their friends had/ has an Alzheimer’s disease
Conclusions
In light of the findings of the study, the following conclusions are made:
1. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities.
2. People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know.
3. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair.
4. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them.
5. AD usually begins after age 60. The risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease.
6. No treatment can stop the disease. However, some drugs may help keep symptoms from getting worse for a limited time.
7. Primary care physicians have an important role to play in acknowledging and supporting the care giving provided by family and friends to individuals with dementia.
Recommendations
One website recommends adopting a "brain-healthy diet" by "reducing
your intake of foods high in fat and cholesterol."
Bibliography
Habeck, M. "New Insights into Alzheimer's Disease." Drug Discovery Today, 2002, 7 (8): 441-442.
Holstein, M. "Alzheimer's Disease and Senile Dementia, 1885-1920: An Interpretive History of Disease Negot! iation." Journal of Aging Studies. 1996, 11 (1): 1-13.
Khachaturian, Z.S., Radebaugh, T.S., Alzheimer's Disease: Cause(s), Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care. New York: CRC Press, 1996.
Maccioni, R.B., Mu–oz, J.P., Barbeito, L. "The Molecular Bases of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders." Archives of Medical Research. 2001, 32 (5): 367-381.
Toreilles, F., Touchon, J., "Pathogenic Theories and Intrathecal Analysis of the Sporadic form of Alzheimer's Disease." Progress in Neurobiology. 2002, 66: 191-203.
Whaley, Natalie S. "Senility, Confusion, Debate, Fear: Conceptualizing Alzheimer's Disease and the History of Senile Dementia." Thesis. Drew University, Madison, NJ, 2002.
Usita, P.M., Hyman, I.E. Jr., Herman, K.C. "Narrative Intentions: Listening to Life Stories in Alzheimer's Disease." Journal of Aging Studies. 1998, 12 (2): 185-197.
Sharon E. Rydon. (2005) The attitudes, knowledge and skills needed in mental health nurses: The perspective of users of mental health services*. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 14:2, 78–87
L. Edman, J. Larsen, RN, PHD, CANDIDATE H. Hägglund, MD, PHD A. Gardulf, RN, PHD Assistant Professor. (2001) Health-related quality of life, symptom distress and sense of coherence in adult survivors of allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. European Journal of Cancer Care 10:2, 124–130
Bonnie J. Nesbitt, Susan M. Heidrich. (2000) Sense of coherence and illness appraisal in older women's quality of life. Research in Nursing & Health 23:1, 25
Nicholas Holdsworth BA(Hons) MA RMN. (1995) From psychiatric science to folk psychology: an ordinary-language model of the mind for mental health nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing 21:3, 476–486
Purandare, N, Oude Voshaar, R C, McCollum, C, Jackson, A, Burns, A (2008). Paradoxical embolisation and cerebral white matter lesions in dementia. Br. J. Radiol. 81: 30-34
Kivipelto, M., Solomon, A. (2006). Cerebral embolism and Alzheimer's disease.. BMJ 332: 1104-1105
Kovari, E., Gold, G., Herrmann, F. R., Canuto, A., Hof, P. R., Bouras, C., Giannakopoulos, P. (2007). Cortical microinfarcts and demyelination affect cognition in cases at high risk for dementi
http://www.alzphilippines.com/aboutus.html
http://www.doh.gov.ph/faq/show/489
Caceres, A, Kosik, KS, Inhibition of neurite polarity by tau antisense oligonucleotides in primary cerebellar neurons Nature. 1990. 343:461-463 2105469
Ebneth, A, et al.Overexpression of tau protein inhibits kinesin-dependent trafficking of vesicles, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum: implications for Alzheimer’s disease J. Cell Biol. 1998. 143:777-794 9813097
Grundke-Iqbal, I, et al.Microtubule-associated protein tau. A component of Alzheimer paired helical filaments J. Biol. Chem. 1986. 261:6084-6089 3084478
Jicha, GA, Berenfeld, B, Davies, P, Sequence requirements for formation of conformational variants of tau similar to those found in Alzheimer’s disease J. Neurosci. Res. 1999. 55:713-723 10220112
Uboga, NV, Price, JL, Formation of diffuse and fibrillar tangles in aging and early Alzheimer’s disease Neurobiol. Aging. 2000. 21:1-10 10794842
Weaver, CL, Espinoza, M, Kress, Y, Davies, P, Conformational change as one of the earliest alterations of tau in Alzheimer’s disease Neurobiol. Aging. 2000. 21:719-727 11016541
Bramblett, GT, et al.Abnormal tau phosphorylation at Ser396 in Alzheimer’s disease recapitulates development and contributes to reduced microtubule binding Neuron. 1993. 10:1089-1099 8318230
Kerr, JF, Wyllie, AH, Currie, AR, Apoptosis: a basic biological phenomenon with wide-ranging implications in tissue kinetics Br. J. Cancer. 1972. 26:239-257 4561027
Gervais, FG, et al.Involvement of caspases in proteolytic cleavage of Alzheimer’s amyloid-beta precursor protein and amyloidogenic A beta peptide formation Cell. 1999. 97:395-406 10319819
Stadelmann, C, et al.Activation of caspase-3 in single neurons and autophagic granules of granulovacuolar degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. Evidence for apoptotic cell death Am. J. Pathol. 1999. 155:1459-1466 10550301
Rohn, TT, Head, E, Nesse, WH, Cotman, CW, Cribbs, DH, Activation of caspase-8 in the Alzheimer’s disease brain Neurobiol. Dis. 2001. 8:1006-1016 11741396
Rohn, TT, et al.Correlation between caspase activation and neurofibrillary tang
le formation in Alzheimer’s disease Am. J. Pathol. 2001. 158:189-198 11141492
Su, JH, Zhao, M, Anderson, AJ, Srinivasan, A, Cotman, CW, Activated caspase-3 expression in Alzheimer’s and aged control brain: correlation with Alzheimer pathology Brain Res. 2001. 898:350-357 11306022
Rohn, TT, et al.Caspase-9 activation and caspase cleavage of tau in the Alzheimer’s disease brain Neurobiol. Dis. 2002. 11:341-354 12505426[PubMed]
Gastard, MC, Troncoso, JC, Koliatsos, VE, Caspase activation in the limbic cortex of subjects with early Alzheimer’s disease Ann. Neurol. 2003. 54:393-398 12953274
Gamblin, TC, et al.Caspase cleavage of tau: linking amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer’s disease Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2003. 100:10032-10037 12888622
Carmel, G, Mager, EM, Binder, LI, Kuret, J, The structural basis of monoclonal antibody Alz50’s selectivity for Alzheimer’s disease pathology J. Biol. Chem. 1996. 271:32789-32795 8955115
Curriculum Vitae
| Personal Information | | | |
| | | | |
| Name: | Hazzel Mae Mejias Cutora | | |
| Nickname: | Hazzel | | |
| Date of birth: | November 14, 1991 | | |
| Place of birth: | Ubay, Bohol | | |
| Civil status: | Single | | |
| Height: | 5" | | |
| Weight: | 45 Kg. | | |
| Citizenship: | Filipino | | |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic | | |
| | | | |
| Educational Background | | | |
| | | | |
| Elementary | Secondary Education | | |
| | | | |
| Tapon Elementary School | Our Lord’s Grace Montessori | | |
| Grades 1-4 | Level 1-3 | |
| | | | |
| Trinity University of Asia | | Mary Immaculate Academy of Q.C | |
| Grades 5-6 | | Level IV |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
