Blood Vessel Dysfunction Linked to Heart Disease Also Impacts Alzheimer's
Alzheimer’s disease is a terminal disease which is also more commonly known as senile dementia. Alzheimer’s is incurable, and varies greatly in the symptoms it presents. Most sufferers of Alzheimer’s are well into old age when they begin to develop it. The most common symptoms are long-term memory loss, mood swings, confusion and aggression and it is thought to be associated with (and caused) by plaques and tangles in the brain. Now, scientists have discovered that individuals who suffer from cardiovascular health issues may be also prone to Alzheimer’s. Patients with cardiovascular issues tend to have a deficiency of nitric oxide in the endothelium. This deficiency triggers an increased production of a certain enzyme which creates plaque in the brain. Therefore, one with any type of cardiovascular disease may be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Dr. Zvonimir S. Katusic of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota said, "If you look at any risk factor for cardiovascular disease -- the standard risk factors like high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, aging -- all of these have been associated with loss of nitric oxide in the endothelium, a condition known as endothelial dysfunction.” Studies that are being conducted at the Mayo Clinic may soon reveal more evidence of this link.
Alzheimer’s affects about 26.6 million people around the world and it is predicted that by 2050, 1 in 85 adults will suffer from Alzheimer’s. While there are ailments that slow down some of the symptoms of this condition, there is no definitive cure at this point in time. This is why this new discovery is so important in medical research. By learning more about the causes of Alzheimer’s – which are still not fully understood by medical experts because they are so vague – and other diseases it is linked to may help with finding a cure. By studying the link between blood vessel dysfunction and Alzheimer’s we may be able to also find a link between their cures and prevention methods. For example, since exercise may help slow down cardiovascular health, it may also provide cognitive benefits which delay the aging of the brain.
This article was very effective in its purpose, taking care to cover all the aspects of this new discovery. Unlike many other science articles, it did not merely mention the name of a disease or protein; it rather took the time to explain what something meant before revealing its importance to the article. This gave me a fuller understanding of this topic, allowing me to absorb more out of the article than I would have if it had not been so informative and explanatory. Also, the article made sure to give specific examples of the possible results of this discovery, allowing the readers to fully understand why this new connection between Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular issues is so impactful in the medical realm.
Posted for C. Louka
Posted for C. Louka
