Download - Deep Brain Stimulation For Alzheimer’s Disease Madison Moreau BME 281 November 14 th, 2012
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>.
Questions?