Alzheimer's Disease

Amongst the many topics we learned in class, Alzheimer’s disease is one in which that is prevalent in the aging population. We learned about the cell biology of the disease, which contributes to neurons dying due to the formation of neurotic plaques and neurofibrilliary tangles. The neurons that are affected are acetylcholine-releasing neurons.

Researchers have not found a cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments involved with acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that prevents the activation of ACh. These treatments lessen the symptoms of the disease. Inhibiting acetylcholinesterase hampers the breakdown of the enzyme, which compensates for the reduction of the enzyme in the disease (IA5. Clinical Application: Acetylcholine and Alzheimer's Disease).

I think Alzheimer’s disease is highly complex to muster up a method to terminate the disease. However, treatments that focus on reducing the enzyme that prevents the launching of ACh is a good step in lessening the symptoms. I think the disease might lessen if the enzyme is inhibited because it was one of the ways that causes the disease.

http://web.williams.edu/imput/synapse/pages/IA5.html