Alzheimer\'s Disease Course Project Part

Alzheimer's Disease

Course project part III: Describe current initiatives

Environmental

Pre-screening and early intervention in the identification and treatment of AD is essential. One recent NIH-funded study used DNA samples from more than 56,000 study participants and "analyzed shared data sets to detect gene variations that may have subtle effects on the risk for developing Alzheimer's" (Studies find possible new genetic links for Alzheimer's disease, 2011, National Institute on Aging). The study found several new gene variants indicating "risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of the disorder" (Studies find possible new genetic links for Alzheimer's disease, 2011, National Institute on Aging).

This is a form of primary intervention, or preventative treatment. Identifying genes can allow for improved early drug treatment studies of the disorder. The interaction between genetics and the environment, and what causes these genes to be expressed can also be studied. Does every person with these genes develop AD? Under what circumstances?

Source:

Studies find possible new genetic links for Alzheimer's disease. (2011). National Institute on Aging. National Institute of Health. Retrieved October 10, 2011 at http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/NewsReleases/PR20110404GWAS.htm

Socio-economic

Poverty and illiteracy significantly increases the probability that an individual will manifest Alzheimer's Disease, along with other health-related complications. One study of a population of Israeli Arabs noted for their high degree of manifesting Alzheimer's found that hypertension (which can be diet-related, and linked to poverty, given that a less healthy diet is often more commonly manifested in the poor) and low education significantly increased the probability of developing AD. This intervention is also primary in nature, given that it underlines the need for social changes, such as improved diet and education amongst the poor, to reduce the prevalence of the disorder.

Source:

Israeli-Korn, S.D.; M. Masarwa; E. Schechtman; A. Abuful; R. Strugatsky; S. Avni;

L.A. Farrer; R.P. Friedland; R. Inzelberg. (2010). Hypertension increases the probability of Alzheimer's disease and of mild cognitive impairment in an Arab community in northern Israel. Neuroepidemiology, 34(2):99-105.

Behavioral