The Link Between Down Syndrome and Alzheimers Disease...

The Link Between Down Syndrome and Alzheimers Disease The individuals with Disabilities Education Act states that all children with disabilities, including mental retardation, be educated to the maximum extent appropriate with students who are not disabled (2). In an ideal world, society would have no problem following this decree, but the world is less than perfect and, therefore, stigmas are unfortunately attached to those suffering from mental disabilities, especially the mentally retarded. One has to question whether this group of people deserves these stigmas. Having grown up with two severely retarded cousins and, for that matter, a great uncle suffering from Alzheimers Disease, I often wondered as to what was happening†¦show more content†¦The fact that individuals displaying the same symptoms have similar abnormalities in their brains gives supporting evidence to the brain = behavior argument. In further support, studies have suggested that mentally retarded adults have the same risk as other adults of developing Alzhei mers disease, which affects roughly 6% of adults over 65 in the general population. However, adults with Down Syndrome have a much higher rate of developing the disease. 25% of adults with Down Syndrome develop the disease by age 40, and the rate sky-rockets to 65% after age 60. Upon autopsy at death, nearly all adults that suffered from Down Syndrome show brain patterns analogous with those of Alzheimers (9) . If the brain is responsible for the behaviors demonstrated by the sufferers of both Down Syndrome and Alzheimers, then one has to question what the link is. What makes the transition from one to the other more frequent than in the general population and why are the mentally retarded not afflicted by Alzheimers as often as those with Down Syndrome? Down Syndrome is the most common genetic form of mental retardation and occurs in about 1 out of every 800 births. It has distinctive characteristics that allow it to be easily distinguished from other forms of mental retardation (3). Factors such as maternal age, hormonal abnormalities, x-rays, viral infection, immunologic problems, and genetic predisposition can cause the improperShow MoreRelatedThe Chronic Neurological Disease : Alzheimer s Disease1649 Words   |  7 PagesNeurological Disease: Alzheimer’s Hollie Haywood South Piedmont Community College Abstract Alzheimer’s disease has been around since 1901; a German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer was the first man to identify and follow a case that is now known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is involved in synaptic deterioration and neuronal cell death, and causes degeneration in the hippocampus and amyloid deposition in blood vessels, ultimately cell death is the cause of the disease. There areRead MoreThe Link Between Autistic Spectrum Disorder1473 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive brain disease that results in cognitive functioning and memory loss. It is thought that reduced levels of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) contributes to increased amyloid precursor protein (APP) levels, therefore contributing to the symptoms of AD. However, the link between Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and AD is still a relatively new area of research, so there are few certainties and still many unknowns. Studies were carriedRead MoreThe Effects Of Concussions On The Football Field1553 Words   |  7 PagesA strong willed linebacker accelerates down the football field. He eyes up his opponent- the running back- both men lower their heads, bracing for impact, while helmets crunch, fans roar. Immediately after connecting, the running back s head feels undeniably different, but at this point in the game, it would cost the team playoff contention if they lose. This man is young, rich, and famous, but little does he kno w that each concussion he gets brings him one step closer to his own grave. MultipleRead MoreManifestations of Dementia Essay1343 Words   |  6 Pageswas alert and mentally quite capable until about a year ago when she began to manifest signs and symptoms of dementia. A review of her medical records failed to document a thorough analysis of her dementia, but a diagnosis of â€Å"probable Alzheimer disease† was recorded. What are the common manifestations of dementia? The definition of Dementia is â€Å"a general term for loss of memory and other mental abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. It is caused by physical changes in the brainRead More Alzheimer’s Disease Essay2338 Words   |  10 PagesAlzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, meaning it attacks the neurons within the brain. Neurons are the areas of the brain that allow for chemical messages, or neurotransmitters, to be transmitted. These neurons are necessary for connections with other nerve cells, and without them, the neuronS ultimately die. Alzheimer’s is a form of, and the most common cause of, dementia, or loss of intellectual capacity and personality. (Dementia.) Alzheimer’s disease, or AD, is not a normal partRead MoreThe Detrimental Effects of Concussions1183 Words   |  5 Pagesbrain cells.†(Carr) That is exactly why a concussion can be devastating to a person’s long term health. There are many symptoms of concussions and very few ways to treat them. The symptoms of a concussion can range from a mild headache to brain diseases such as dementia. Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, disorientation, a change in a person’s memory or an easy loss of concentration. A person with a concussion can also have early symptoms such as always being tired, having a nauseous feelingRead MoreOutline Of Alzheimer s Disease2765 Words   |  12 PagesMilton Schiffenbauer Research Topics in Biology GSB 493 CA Alzheimer’s disease Introduction Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that accounts for sixty to seventy percent of Dementia cases. It is characterized by the development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the loss of connection between neurons in the brain and the death of nerve cells. There are two types of Alzheimer’s Early on-set Alzheimer’s which occur from the ages of thirty to sixty is very rare andRead MoreThe Disease Of Alzheimer s Disease2246 Words   |  9 PagesINTRODUCTION Alzheimer’s Disease has been one of the top leading causes of death in our country. It is understood that this disease is identified as an excess of the protein amyloid-ß within an increase of plaque (Seneff, Wainwright, and Mascitelli, 2010). Additionally, as the brain ages, it gets used to the inflammation and oxidative stress, so it is important to take the right amount of antioxidant micronutrients like vitamin C and vitamin E as well as anti-inflammatory macronutrients such asRead MoreDown Syndrome : An Intellectual Disability2156 Words   |  9 PagesOverview of Down syndrome Down syndrome is an intellectual disability that is a result of a person being born with an extra chromosome, specifically chromosome 21. Down syndrome is the most common intellectual disability affecting approximately 1 in every 1000 births (Asim, Kumar, Muthuswamy, Jain, Agarwal, 2015). Research has found a direct link between the age of the mother and the possibility that the baby will be born with Down syndrome, with the occurrence of Down syndrome increasing proportionallyRead MoreDementia Awareness1790 Words   |  8 Pagesdepression, delirium and age related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia. Depression, delirium and age related impairment can be mistaken for dementia as they all have similar signs and symptoms. Some of the signs that are similar between depression and dementia are - * low mood or sadness * feeling hopeless and helpless * feeling irritable and intolerant of others   * having no  motivation  or interest in things * finding it difficult to  make decisions *