This document is a biology investigatory project report submitted by Shreya Patil of Class XI on the topic of Alzheimer's and dementia. The report includes an introduction outlining Alzheimer's as the most common cause of dementia and risk factors. The main content section covers symptoms of Alzheimer's, causes related to plaques and tangles in the brain, diagnosis process, current drug treatments, and differences between dementia and Alzheimer's. The conclusion states that while dementia is a broader term, Alzheimer's is the most common cause and results in severe memory loss and dependency as the disease progresses over time.
This document is a biology investigatory project report submitted by Shreya Patil of Class XI on the topic of Alzheimer's and dementia. The report includes an introduction outlining Alzheimer's as the most common cause of dementia and risk factors. The main content section covers symptoms of Alzheimer's, causes related to plaques and tangles in the brain, diagnosis process, current drug treatments, and differences between dementia and Alzheimer's. The conclusion states that while dementia is a broader term, Alzheimer's is the most common cause and results in severe memory loss and dependency as the disease progresses over time.
This document is a biology investigatory project report submitted by Shreya Patil of Class XI on the topic of Alzheimer's and dementia. The report includes an introduction outlining Alzheimer's as the most common cause of dementia and risk factors. The main content section covers symptoms of Alzheimer's, causes related to plaques and tangles in the brain, diagnosis process, current drug treatments, and differences between dementia and Alzheimer's. The conclusion states that while dementia is a broader term, Alzheimer's is the most common cause and results in severe memory loss and dependency as the disease progresses over time.
This document is a biology investigatory project report submitted by Shreya Patil of Class XI on the topic of Alzheimer's and dementia. The report includes an introduction outlining Alzheimer's as the most common cause of dementia and risk factors. The main content section covers symptoms of Alzheimer's, causes related to plaques and tangles in the brain, diagnosis process, current drug treatments, and differences between dementia and Alzheimer's. The conclusion states that while dementia is a broader term, Alzheimer's is the most common cause and results in severe memory loss and dependency as the disease progresses over time.
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Name – Shreya Sanjay Patil Class – XI Section – B
Roll no. – 12 Subject – biology Session – 2020-21
Investigatory project
Topic – Alzheimer’s and dementia
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my gratitude to my teacher Mrs.
Archana Katoch ma’am as well as our principal Mr. Ganesh Parameswaran sir who gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful biology investigatory project on the topic Alzheimer’s and dementia, which helped me in doing a lot of research and I came to know about so many new things. I would like to express my greatest appreciation all individuals who have helped and supported me throughout the project. I am thankful to my biology teacher for her ongoing support during the project, from initial advice, and provision of contacts in the first stages through ongoing advice and encouragement, which led to the final report of this project. I wish to thank my parents as well for their undivided support and interest who inspired me and encouraged me to go my own way, without whom I would be unable to complete my project. At the end, I want to thank my friends who displayed appreciation to my work and motivated me to continue my work.
Thank you! Certificate
This is to certify that Shreya Patil of class XI B of Bal Bharati
Public School has successfully completed the biology investigatory project on the topic Alzheimer’s and dementia under the guidance of Mrs. Archana Katoch ma’am during the session 2020-2021 in partial fulfilment of biology practical examination conducted by CBSE.
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, a
general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are 65 and older. But Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease (also known as early-onset Alzheimer’s). Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. On average, a person with Alzheimer's lives four to eight years after diagnosis, but can live as long as 20 years, depending on other factors. Main content Symptoms of Alzheimer’s People with Alzheimer's may: Repeat statements and questions over and over Forget conversations, appointments or events, and not remember them later Routinely misplace possessions, often putting them in illogical locations Get lost in familiar places Eventually forget the names of family members and everyday objects Have trouble finding the right words to identify objects, express thoughts or take part in conversations. Everyone has occasional memory lapses, but the memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease persists and worsens, affecting the ability to function at work or at home.
Causes of Alzheimer’s The exact causes of Alzheimer's disease aren't fully understood. But at a basic level, brain proteins fail to function normally, which disrupts the work of brain cells (neurons) and triggers a series of toxic events. Neurons are damaged, lose connections to each other and eventually die. Researchers trying to understand the cause of Alzheimer's disease are focused on the role of two proteins: Plaques - Beta-amyloid is a fragment of a larger protein. When these fragments cluster together, they appear to have a toxic effect on neurons and to disrupt cell-to-cell communication. These clusters form larger deposits called amyloid plaques, which also include other cellular debris. Tangles - Tau proteins play a part in a neuron's internal support and transport system to carry nutrients and other essential materials. In Alzheimer's disease, tau proteins change shape and organize themselves into structures called neurofibrillary tangles. The tangles disrupt the transport system and are toxic to cells.
Treatment of Alzheimer’s Diagnosis - An important part of diagnosing
Alzheimer's disease includes being able to explain your symptoms, as well as perspective from a close family member or friend about symptoms and their impact on daily life. Additionally, a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is based on tests your doctor administers to assess memory and thinking skills. Physical and neurological exam - Your doctor will perform a physical exam and likely assess overall neurological health by testing the following: Reflexes Muscle tone and strength Ability to get up from a chair and walk across the room Sense of sight and hearing Coordination Balance Mental status and neuropsychological testing - Your doctor may give you a brief mental status test to assess memory and other thinking skills. Brain imaging - Images of the brain are now used chiefly to pinpoint visible abnormalities related to conditions other than Alzheimer's disease — such as strokes, trauma or tumours — that may cause cognitive change. Treatment Drugs - Current Alzheimer's medications can help for a time with memory symptoms and other cognitive changes. Two types of drugs are currently used to treat cognitive symptoms: 1) Cholinesterase inhibitors - These drugs work by boosting levels of cell-to- cell communication by preserving a chemical messenger that is depleted in the brain by Alzheimer's disease. These are usually the first medications tried, and most people see modest improvements in symptoms. 2) Memantine (Namenda). This drug works in another brain cell communication network and slows the progression of symptoms with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. It's sometimes used in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor. Relatively rare side effects include dizziness and confusion. Adapting the living situation to the needs of a person with Alzheimer's disease is an important part of any treatment plan. For someone with Alzheimer's, establishing and strengthening routine habits and minimizing memory- demanding tasks can make life much easier. Difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a specific disease. Dementia is not.
Dementia overview - Dementia describes a group of symptoms
associated with a decline in memory, reasoning or other thinking skills. Many different types of dementia exist, and many conditions cause it. Mixed dementia is a condition in which brain changes of more than one type of dementia occur simultaneously. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases.
Alzheimer’s overview - Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease that
is caused by complex brain changes following cell damage. It leads to dementia symptoms that gradually worsen over time. The most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is trouble remembering new information because the disease typically impacts the part of the brain associated with learning first.
Other types of dementia
Vascular Dementia - If a relative or friend of yours gets this type of dementia, it's usually because they had a major stroke, or one or more smaller, "silent" strokes, which can happen without them realizing it. The symptoms depend on which part of their brain was affected by the stroke. Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) - Lewy bodies are microscopic deposits of a protein that form in some people's brains. They're named after the scientist who discovered them. If someone you know gets DLB, it's because these deposits have formed in the part of the brain called the cortex. Parkinson's Disease Dementia - people with the nervous system disorder Parkinson's disease get this type of dementia about 50% to 80% of the time. On average, the symptoms of dementia develop about 10 years after a person first gets Parkinson's. Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) - If your loved one has an FTD, they have developed cell damage in areas of the brain that control planning, judgment, emotions, speech, and movement. Someone with FTD may have: Personality and behaviour changes, sudden lack of inhibitions in personal and social situations etc. Conclusion
From this project, we conclude that while dementia is a much
more general term, Alzheimer’s is the largest fragment of it. Memory loss and diseases related to it are much more serious than what we consider them to be. Alzheimer’s, causes a ton of problems in day-to-day life and worsens with time thus making the diseased completely helpless and dependent. While the causes are not known exactly known but a basic idea about the misfunctioning of two brain proteins occurs due to a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Also, the genetic part of it is very rare and it is more common due to other factors. The symptoms are not very specific saw thorough tests are more reliable to know the exact disease. Similar to the causes, the treatment is not entirely known. But some drugs and an overall better environment can bring about developments in the severity of the Alzheimer’s. Dementia being a more general term, consists many other types. Although it is 60-80% cases of Alzheimer’s but these other diseases are found too. Both these terms are fairly distinct. Other common types of dementia are vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s disease dementia, frontotemporal dementia etc. Bibliography
For completing my biology investigatory project on the topic
“Alzheimer’s and dementia” I took reference and help from the following sources – https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/155252791 1) Wiley online library – Alzheimer’s and dementia https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/ symptoms-causes/syc-20350447 2) Mayo clinic – Alzheimer’s disease symptoms and causes https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-facts#women-at-risk 3) Healthline – 10 surprising facts about Alzheimer’s https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-dementia 4) WebMD – types of dementia explained
5) Alz.org - What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
6) Our better world - A young caregiver’s raw words to her father with Alzheimer’s
