May 22 - Diseases of Aging(1)

7/31/2019 May 22 - Diseases of Aging(1)

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Diseases of Aging

Learning Objectives:

Describe symptoms and

etiology/ progression of

Alzheimers and Parkinsons

Disease

List plants that are used in

prevention and treatment of

Alzheimers and Parkinsons

and describe their activities.


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Aging population

Percentage of population:

Year % 65+ % 80+

1975 10.5 2.1

2000 12.6 3.3

2015 14.7 3.8

2030 20.0 5.3

US Census Bureau

Baby Boomers

(1946 1964)


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Panaxspp.

Ginsenosides

anticarcinogenic

anti-inflammatory

antiatherosclerotic

antidiabetic

antistress

effects on the centralnervous system (may

protect neurons and

modulate neurotransmitters


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Dementia

Usually found in older patients

US population growing older

US Census Bureau


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Alzheimers Disease

= Slowly progressing dementia as nerve cells degenerate

and die

- Affects approx. 4.5 million Americans (doubled since 1980)

- Patients live average 8 yrs after diagnosis

- Usually develops after age 65

But.rare, inherited form can appear in patients 30-40 yrs

1 in 10 indiv. over age 651 in 2 indiv. over age 85

- Genetically / family based in 10% cases


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Alzheimers Disease

Symptoms:

Memory loss and

confusion

Personality changeBehavior problems

Indicated by:

Amyloid plaques

Neurofibrillary tangles

- clumps of protein accumulatingoutside brain nerve cells

- twisted protein strands formed

inside cells


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Alzheimers-amyloid clumps block cell-cell signaling at synapses

Tangles destroy transport system within nerve cells

Normal synapse


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Alzheimers

Cortex shrivelsaffecting thinking,

planning and

remembering

Ventricles expand

Hippocampus,involved in memory

formation, shrinks


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Disease Progression of Alzheimers

Learning, memory,

thinking, planningSpeech center,

orientation

Cell death is widespread

Communication, recognition, self-care lost www.Alz.org


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TurmericCurcuma longa

(Zingiberaceae)

Antioxidant

Anti-amyloid

Anti-inflammatory

Anti-tumor

Active ingredient: Cucurmin


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Alzheimers Disease

Treatment:

Ginkgo bilobaextracts

- Evidence suggests they may

inhibit formation of beta-amyloid(protein that forms amyloid plaques)

- May improve blood circulation in

brain- Antioxidant

(protects

neurons fromdamage)

- Anti-inflammatory


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Parkinsons Disease

Neurodegenerative Disease

- Neurons disintegrate in basal ganglion

- Dopamine is selectively depleted

Effects:

Difficulty initiating movements

Muscle rigidityTremors

Anxiety & depression

Loss of voice volume, speed, clarity

Memory loss

The average age of onset is 60 years;

(estimated 5 - 10 % under age 40).


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Imbalance in

Dopamine/

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitters

Loss of neurons

in substantia nigra

Parkinsons


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Parkinsons Disease Treatment:

Enhancement of dopamine levels

Problem: Dopamine is not readily transported across

blood-brain barrier

Solution: Immediate precursor,

L-dopa, does!

Blood

Brain

Dopamine L-dopa

Dopamine

Rxn catalyzed by enzyme:

Aromatic-L-amino-acid

decarboxylase

3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Levodopa.png


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L-dopa - Obtained in 1913 from Broad Bean

Vicia faba (Fabaceae)

Ingestion

produces

substantial

increase inL-DOPA

plasma

levels &

improvedmotor

performance


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Potential Parkinsons Treatment

Marijuana - Cannabis sativa

THC - tetrahydrocannabinol

Produced in trichomes;(Mahlberg & Kim, 2005)

- Conflicting evidence of its

potential for PD treatment

- Antagonists may offer the most

benefit


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THC - tetrahydrocannabinol

Complex interactions between CB and dopamine transmission

Cannabinoid chemical receptors:

CB1 - brainCB2 - peripheral immune system

Endogenous cannabinoids (anandamide)

* Roles in:

regulation of motor behavior

cognition

learning and memory

reduced pain perception

neuronal development


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CB1 receptors abundant in the basal ganglia and the

cerebellum, areas that control movement

Decrease with age

Increased in patients with Parkinsons Disease (PD)

CB1 receptor binding altered in the basal ganglia of

humans affected by several neurological diseases

Overactive in people with PD

Cannabinoids (synthetic,

plant-derived, &

endogenous) strongly

affect motor activity (mostly

inhibitory)

(reviewed in Romero et al. 2002)


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Cannabinoids

May reduce L-Dopa induced dyskinesia in Parkinson'sdisease

Dyskinesia: distortion or impairment of voluntary

movement (spasm, tic)

Antagonists may be useful in treatment of PD (since CB

receptors are overexpressed


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Life expectancy is increasing:

National Vital Statistics Report 2004 and U S Census Bureau 2012

Year Both Male Female

2008 78.0 75.5 80.5

2000 76.8 74.1 79.3

1990 75.4 71.8 78.8

1980 73.7 70.0 77.4

1970 70.8 67.1 74.7

1960 69.7 66.6 73.1

1950 68.2 65.6 71.1

1940 62.9 60.8 65.2

1930 59.7 58.1 61.6

1920 54.1 53.6 54.6

1910 50.0 48.4 51.8

1900 47.3 46.3 48.3

May 22 - Diseases of Aging(1)

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