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Deep Brain Stimulation For Alzheimer’s Disease. Madison Moreau BME 281 November 14 th , 2012. What is Alzheimer’s Disease?. Form of dementia Loss of brain functions that gets worse over time Ex) Memory, thinking, and behavior Mild cognitive impairment due to aging No treatment
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Deep Brain StimulationForAlzheimer’s Disease Madison Moreau BME 281 November 14th, 2012
What is Alzheimer’s Disease? • Form of dementia • Loss of brain functions that gets worse over time • Ex) Memory, thinking, and behavior • Mild cognitive impairment due to aging • No treatment • Approved drugs only delay the diseases progress
The Pineal Gland and Alzheimer’s Disease • Circadian rhythm • Biological process that tells the body what time of day it is • Pineal gland is used by the brain for this process • Secretes melatonin • In AD the pineal gland stops secreting the proper amount of melatonin for the body to sense what time it is
How Deep Brain Stimulation Works for AD • Electrode probe is placed on the pineal gland • Stimulates the gland to secrete melatonin • The pacemaker is placed in the chest • Programmed to stimulate the gland to secrete melatonin on a regular basis
Results • Some patients take well to the deep brain stimulation while others do not • Some patients see a decrease in cognitive abilities while others see an increase • Not enough tests have been performed
Future • Deep brain stimulation can stop AD from progressing and actually reverse the disease to a degree • Restore the circadian rhythm • Allow the pineal gland to secrete the proper amount of melatonin and on a regular, consistent basis
Works Cited • "Alzheimer's Damage Reversed by Deep Brain Stimulation." - Health. N.p., 23 Nov. 2011. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21228404.500-alzheimers-damage-reversed-by-deep-brain-stimulation.html>. • Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. Alzheimer's Disease. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 0000. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001767/>. • "Circadian Rhythm." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Dec. 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm>. • "Deep Brain Stimulation May Hold Promise for Mild Alzheimer's Disease - 05/07/2012." Deep Brain Stimulation May Hold Promise for Mild Alzheimer's Disease - 05/07/2012. Johns Hopkins, 5 May 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/deep_brain_stimulation_may_hold_promise_for_mild_alzheimers_disease>. • "Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15725334>.