...Alzheimer’s Disease a Fight for Information and Understanding ABSTRACT Alzheimer’s disease slowly deteriorates the brain, causing loss of both memory and the ability to control emotion. This review will discuss possible indicators, hypothesized causes, and both current and experimental treatments of Alzheimer’s. The disease mostly affects people over the age of 60 but can occur earlier. The problem with detecting Alzheimer’s early is that there are no clear indicators, and the changes in the brain progress before symptoms in the patient are visible. It’s hypothesized that the main cause of Alzheimer’s is neuronal plasticity and a build up of plaques. The plasticity leads to neuron tangles, causing blocks in synaptic signaling. Research on assays for detecting amyloid-beta ligands and disease treatments will need to involve human trails for future investigation. KEY WORDS: Alzheimer’s disease, neuronal plasticity, Tau-directed Therapy, amyloid-beta ligands, dementia INTRODUCTION Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a deteriorating disease of the brain that attacks neurons throughout the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus.1,2 The deterioration the cerebral cortex leads to the impairment of a person’s ability to control emotion, coordination, and the ability to comprehend configurations.6 The loss of memory caused by AD comes from the deterioration of the hippocampus.5 Alzheimer’s is most common in people 65 years or older, however for people with early onset Alzheimer’s...
Words: 2763 - Pages: 12
...NERVOUS SYSTEM The nervous system is the complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the body. CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM The Central NS is made up of the brain and spinal cord BRAIN The brain lies within the skull and is shaped like a mushroom. The brain consists of four principal parts: * the brain stem * the cerebrum * the cerebellum * the diencephalon The brain weighs approximately 1.3 to 1.4 kg. It has nerve cells called the neurons and supporting cells called the glia. There are two types of matter in the brain: grey matter and white matter. Grey matter receives and stores impulses. Cell bodies of neurons and neuroglia are in the grey matter. White matter in the brain carries impulses to and from grey matter. It consists of the nerve fibers or the axons. * The brain stem The brain stem is also known as the Medulla oblongata. It is located between the pons and the spinal cord and is only about one inch long. * The cerebrum The cerebrum forms the bulk of the brain and is supported on the brain stem. The cerebrum is divided into two hemispheres. Each hemisphere controls the activities of the side of the body opposite that hemisphere. The hemispheres are further divided into four lobes: * Frontal lobe * Temporal lobes * Parietal lobe * Occipital lobe * The cerebellum This is located behind and below the cerebrum. * The diencephalon ...
Words: 850 - Pages: 4
...By the third day of development, the human egg or zygote it is now a small mass called the blastocyst. By 1-2 weeks the blastocyst’s inner cell mass separates into three layers. The Mesoderm is responsible for developing muscles, bones, blood, circulatory system, teeth, connective tissues and kidneys. The endoderm is responsible for the internal organs such as the stomach and intestine. And the ectoderm is responsible for things such as our skin, hair, sweat glands, salivary glands, brain, spinal cord, and PNS. By week 2 of development the ectoderm will also start to thicken and fold in on itself to form the neural groove and by 2-8 weeks it will come together and form the neural tube. The interior of the neural tube will become the five ventricles, the central canal of the spinal cord. The anterior part of the neural groove will become the forebrain, the midbrain and the hindbrain. The inner surface of the neural tube is lined with cells that will produce neurons through the process called neurogenesis. These cells in the neural tube divide and become the ventricular zone. As the nervous system grows the cells move to fill out the brain through cell migration. These cells go through cell differentiation which allows them to take the characteristics of the neurons that exist in that particular region. Once they do this they are able to make synaptic connection with other neurons in that region through synaptogenesis. Neurons fight for synaptic sites and a chemical the target site...
Words: 1361 - Pages: 6
...Name________________________________Block_____Date______________________ Ch 7 The Nervous System Notes Lisa Peck I. Organization of the Nervous System (pp 222-224) Nervous system- the master controlling and communicating system of the body 3 functions: 1. sensory receptors to monitor changes occurring inside & outside body stimuli- changes sensory input- gathered information 2. processes and interprets the sensory input integration- nervous system makes decisions about what should be done 3. effects a response by activating muscles or glands (effectors) via motor output Regulating and Maintaining Homeostasis nervous system - fast-acting control via electrical impulses endocrine system- slow-acting control via hormones release into the blood Structural Classification (p 223) 2 subdivisions: Central Nervous System Peripheral Nervous System 1. Central Nervous System (CNS) consists of: brain spinal cord functions: integrating center.........interpret incoming sensory information command center..........issue instructions based on past experience & current conditions 2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) consists of: nerves 2 types: cranial nerves- carry impulses to and from the brain spinal nerves- carry impulses to and from the spinal cord ganglia- groups of nerve cell bodies function: communication lines, linking all parts of the body Functional Classification 2 (pp 223-224) only deals with peripheral nervous system (PNS) 1. Sensory...
Words: 2870 - Pages: 12
...Chapter 40 4 main categories of tissue: Epithelial, Connective, Muscle, Nervous. I. Epithelial Tissue (Epithelium): forms interactive surfaces with environment on external and internal body surfaces; functions as barriers. Formed from continuous sheets of tightly packed cells Covers outside of body; or lines organs and body cavities Apical surface: the free surface exposed to air or body fluids Basal surface: cells at base of epithelium are attached to a basement membrane (which is a dense layer of extracellular matrix) Is avascular (no blood vessels); the blood vessels that supply nutrients and remove wastes are in the adjacent connective tissue: diffusion Cell Shapes at APICAL surface Squamous epithelium: flat; look like floor tiles Their thinness allows rapid movement of substances through them by diffusion Cuboidal epithelium: boxlike; looks like dice Produces important secretions Columnar epithelium: tall, pillar-like; some have cilia Protects underlying tissue Functions in absorption of nutrients and secretions (digestive juices) Arrangement of Layers Simple epithelium: 1 layer of cells Stratified epithelium: 2 or more layers Protect underlying tissues where the is abrasion/ wear and tear Stratified squamous (best adapted for abrasion): covers outside of body; forms outermost layer of skin; lines mouth, esophagus, vagina, anus. Pseudostratified epithelium (false multiple layers): 1 layer of a mixture of cell shapes; looks like multiple...
Words: 6485 - Pages: 26
...How to go to your page This eBook set contains two volumes. The main content pages are contiguously numbered: use the Table of Contents to find those page numbers. The front matter pages and indices are labeled with the Volume number and page separated by a colon. For example, to go to page vi of Volume 1, type Vol1:vi in the “page #” box at the top of the screen and click “Go”. To go to page vi of Volume 2, type Vol2:vi in the "page #" box… and so forth. Encyclopedia of Human Body Systems This page intentionally left blank Encyclopedia of Human Body Systems VOLUME 1 Julie McDowell, Editor Copyright 2010 by ABC-CLIO, LLC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data McDowell, Julie. Encyclopedia of human body systems / Julie McDowell. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978–0–313–39175–0 (hard copy : alk. paper) 1. Human physiology—Encyclopedias. I. Title. QP11.M33 2011 612.003—dc22 2010021682 ISBN: 978–0–313–39175–0 EISBN: 978–0–313–39176–7 14 13 12 11 10 1 2 3 4 5 This book is also available on the World Wide Web as an eBook. Visit www.abc-clio.com for details. Greenwood An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC ABC-CLIO, LLC...
Words: 218741 - Pages: 875
