Alzheimer�s Turning Point

Description:

This compelling text provides an overview of the available technology for early detection and therapeutic management of vascular risk factors to Alzheimer’s before severe cognitive impairment symptoms appear. Chapters bring the reader from the trackless clinical research that has characterized Alzheimer’s progress for the last 20 years, to a nexus of new ideas and concepts that can change our outlook of this dementia. In-depth examinations of various hypotheses, preventive measures, current and prospective treatments are openly and clearly explored. The author discusses in depth his proposal of the vascular hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease which has become a mother-lode for basic and clinical studies and a key approach to the prevention of this dementia.Alzheimer’s Turning Point offers professionals, students and those looking to learn more about this disorder a fresh clinical perspective of this devastating disease.

Table of Contents:

1 How Does Alzheimer’s Begin and Who Gets It?

Alzheimer’s Symptoms

Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

A Caretaker’s Story

A Capsule History of Alzheimer’s

What Is Dementia?

Non-Alzheimer’s Dementias

Vascular Dementia

Mixed Dementia

Cerebral Blood Flow Diminishes with Age

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Creutzfeldt–Jakob Dementia

Frontotemporal Dementia (Pick’s Disease)

Wernicke–Korsakoff Syndrome

References

2 Storing and Keeping Memories

Forming Memories

Creating a Memory

References

3 Masquerading as Dementia

When it is not Dementia

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Thyroid Disease

Alcoholism

Treating Alzheimer’s

References

4 Alzheimer’s Then and Now

Alzheimer’s Has Been Around Since Ancient Times

Twisted Blood Vessels

Cerebral Hypoperfusion Causes Alzheimer’s

References

5 Unproven Hypotheses on the Cause of Alzheimer’s

The Abeta Hypothesis: A Die-Hard Concept

A Seductive Hypothesis

When a Hypothesis Does Not Work

Consistent Clinical Trial Failures

Smothering the Think Tank

References

6 Other Hypotheses on the Cause of Alzheimer’s Disease

The Cholinergic Hypothesis

Ethical Considerations in Recommending Medication for Alzheimer’s

When Cholinesterase Inhibitors Are Not Prescribed

Cell Cycle Hypothesis

Aluminum Hypothesis

Inflammatory Hypothesis

Oxidative Stress Hypothesis

The Calcium Hypothesis

References

7 Alzheimer’s Noise

When Hope Becomes Hype

Eliminating Alzheimer’s Disease

President Reagan Develops Alzheimer’s Disease—Was Poor Brain Blood Flow the Trigger?

References

8 The Social Contract and Alzheimer’s

The Government’s Priorities in Protecting its Citizens from Harm and Disease

Dollars Per Death Index

Cold War Mind-set and Biomedical Research

Reference

9 Genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease

Gene Mutations as the Cause of Alzheimer’s

Familial Alzheimer’s Disease

Twin Studies

Susceptibility Genes, Can They Harm You?

References

10 Powering the Brain

The Brain Needs Constant Energy Nutrients to Stay Healthy

Neuronal Energy Crisis

Making ATP Energy Fuel

The Citric Acid Cycle (Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle or the Krebs Cycle)

The Electron Transport Chain

Why Do Cognitive-Regulating Neurons Die During Aging?

References

11 Pharmaceuticals and Alzheimer’s

Profit not Health Is the Pharmaceutical Mantra

Why Are Pharmaceuticals Despised?

When Good Medical Research Works

References

12 Conditions That Can Promote Alzheimer’s

Vascular Risk Factors: The Most Important Therapeutic Targets for Alzheimer’s Today

Brain-Related Vascular Risk Factors

Head Injury

Other Common Alzheimer Vascular Risk Factors

Heart-Related Risk Factors

Atherosclerosis

Aortic Stiffening

The Heart as the Instigator of Cognitive Collapse

Heart Failure

Coronary Artery Disease

Valvular Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Hyperhomocysteinemia

Hypertension

Hypotension

White-Coat Hypertension

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Erectile Dysfunction

Sleep Apnea

Diabetes Type 2

Hemorheologic and Hemodynamic Abnormalities

Alcoholism

Menopause

Smoking

Hyperlipidemia

Obesity

International Studies Focusing on Alzheimer’s

Preventive Alzheimer’s Clinics

Is the System Rigged?

References

13 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Advanced Aging

Good Aging

Optimal Blood Pressure

Cognitive Reserve

Stress in Life

Bad Aging

Alzheimer’s Has no Cure

Falls in the Elderly

The Ugly

Contemplating Suicide

References

14 A Personal Account of How a Scientific Hypothesis Blooms into a Life of Its Own

The Barf Bag Theory

The Vascular Hypothesis of Alzheimer’s Disease Is Born

When Neurons Struggle for Survival

A Summary of the Evidence

References

15 Clinical Tools to Detect and Predict Individuals at Risk of Alzheimer’s

Cerebrovascular Evaluation with Neuroimaging

Cardiovascular Evaluation

Psychometric Testing

Ocular Screens

Where Do We Go from Here?

References

16 The Turning Point for Alzheimer’s

How Prevention Works

The Rising Alzheimer’s Incidence

Heart-Brain Clinics Can Lower the Number of New Alzheimer Cases

Challenges in Establishing Heart-Brain Clinics

References

17 How Poor Brain Blood Flow Promotes Alzheimer’s Disease

Brain Blood Flow and Metabolism

When Blood Flow to the Brain Is Insufficient

Poiseuille’s Formula

Making Sense of the Vascular Hypothesis of Alzheimer’s Disease

References

18 Interventions that May Increase Cerebral Blood Flow

Photobiomodulation to Enhance Neuron Energy Fuel

Potential Pharmacotherapy to Enhance Cerebral Blood Flow

Rho Kinase Inhibitors

ACE Inhibitors

Sirtuins

References

19 Great Expectations

What to Expect from Alzheimer’s Research

How to Move Forward in Alzheimer’s Research

References

20 A Road to New Thinking

Reference

Index