ALZHEIMER’S

WHAT
 Alzheimer’s disease is a
progressive form of dementia
 Its symptoms come on gradually
and the effects on the brain are
degenerative, meaning they cause
slow decline.
 There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s but
treatment can help slow the
progression of the disease and
may improve quality of life.
WHO & WHEN
Age. Most people who develop
Alzheimer’s disease are 65 years of age or
older.
Family history. If you have an immediate
family member who has developed the
condition, you’re more likely to get it.
Genetics. Certain genes have been linked
to Alzheimer’s disease.
WHY
Alzheimer's is caused by brain cell death.
The tissue has fewer and fewer nerve cells and
connections.
The nerve tissue in the brain of a person with Alzheimer's
has tiny deposits, known as plaques and tangles, that build
up on the tissue.
RESEARCH UNDERTAKINGS:

Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project

(ADSP)
 National Centralized Repository for
Alzheimer's Disease and Related
Dementias
 Targets for future drugs
 What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological)
disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal,
causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior,
sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Anyone
can develop epilepsy.
•Epilepsy is the fourth most common
neurological disorder and affects people
of all ages.
•Epilepsy means the same thing as
"seizure disorders."
•Epilepsy is characterized by
unpredictable seizures and can cause
other health problems.
eizure MRI
 What is seizure?
 It is sudden surge of electrical activities in the brain.
 It affects how a person appears or acts for a short period of time.
 Symptoms
 Seizures:- There are 2 types of seizures occuring in epilepsy ; focal &
general seizures

Post-ictal:- common symptoms include feeling tired, headache, difficulty

speaking, and abnormal behavior.Psychosis after a seizure is relatively
common, occurring in 6–10% of people

Psychosocial:- Depression, anxiety,obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD)

& migraine
 Causes
Epilepsy can have both genetic and acquired causes, with
interaction of these factors in many cases. Established
acquired causes include serious brain trauma, stroke,
tumours and problems in the brain as a result of a
previous infection. In about 60% of cases the cause is
unknown. Epilepsies caused by genetic, congenital,
or devlopmental conditions are more common among
younger people, while brain tumors and strokes are more likely in
older people.
The diagnosis of epilepsy is typically made based on observation of
the seizure onset and the underlying cause.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) to look for abnormal patterns of
brain waves and neuroimaging (CT scan or MRI) to look at the
structure of the brain are also usually part of the workup. While
figuring out a specific epileptic syndrome is often attempted, it is not
always possible.Video and EEG monitoring may be useful in difficult
cases.
 PARKINSON’S
DISEASE(PD)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-

producing (“dopaminergic”) neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra.
WHO & WHEN
Overall, around 300 per 100,000 people have
Parkinson’s disease.
Most people are diagnosed during their 70s
although 15% of cases occur among people
who are under 50 years of age
 Men are more likely to have PD than women.
Number of people diagnosed with PD
increases with age.
 What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s?

The primary symptoms of Parkinson’s are related to movement, and vary from one person to the next.
1. tremors - these will typically start in one hand on one side of your body, but you may also feel them in your
arms, legs, jaw and face.
2. bradykinesia - this is when your movements become slower, making it very difficult to perform even simple
tasks.
3. rigidity - this is when your muscles are unable to relax, which can affect your posture and make your
movements are more jerky. You may even find yourself freezing like a statue in the middle of what you are doing
(akinesia).
Diagnosis
There are currently no blood or laboratory tests to
diagnose nongenetic cases of Parkinson's disease.
Diagnosis is based on a person's medical history
and a neurological examination.
Improvement after initiating medication is another
important hallmark of Parkinson's disease.
What Causes Parkinson's Disease?
 Parkinson's disease occurs when nerve
cells, or neurons, in an area of the brain
that controls movement become
impaired and/or die.
 Normally, these neurons produce an
important brain chemical known as
dopamine.
 When the neurons die or become
impaired, they produce less dopamine,
which causes the movement problems
of Parkinson's.
 Scientists still do not know what causes
cells that produce dopamine to die.
Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
There is no standard treatment for
Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Treatment for each person with
Parkinson's is based on his or her
symptoms.
Treatments include medication and
surgical therapy. Other treatments
include lifestyle modifications, like
getting more rest and exercise.
Gene therapy offers hope for easing
Parkinson's