DEPARTMENT OF

BIOLOGY
IDEAL INDIAN SCHOOL
DOHA-QATAR
BIOLOGY
INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT.
Alzheimer's And Dementia
Submitted by NAME: SAGID EL
SADIG CLASS: XII-B Under the
guidance of
Ms. Renuka Mahesh
of the year 2023-2024
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that _____________________ of class XII has done the Biology project
during that academic year 2022-2023 at Ideal Indian School, Doha Qatar.
His examination roll number is ________________________
Date: ___/_____/________ Signature of PGT biology: _______________

Name: ______________________

School Seal:
Signature of principal: ___________________
Submitted to All India Senior School Certificate Examination in Biology [practical]
conducted by Ideal Indian school. Doha Qatar on ____________________

External Examiner: Name:________________________________

Designation:___________________________
School:________________________________
Signature:_____________________________

Internal Examiner: Name:________________________________

Designation:___________________________
 School:_______________________________
Signature:____________________________

CONTENT
S
1. Acknowledgement
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
4. Effects of Alzheimer’s
5. Prevalence
6.What are the stages of Alzheimer's?
7. Steps to diagnosis
8.Treatment Horizon
9. Conclusions
10. Reference

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my sincere gratitude
towards my biology teacher Ms. Renuka
Mahesh, for her support, who also directed me
to complete this project successfully. I would
also like to extend my gratitude to my
Principal Sir, Mr. Shaikh Shamim for giving
me the opportunity to do this wonderful
project on the topic To Study and Investigate
Alzheimer's and Dementia. Lastly, I would
like to confess my gratitude to my parents who
had provided me with all the necessary
facilities and media for the completion of the
project.

Abstract
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for
memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with
daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia
cases.
Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory,
thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse
over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks
Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest known risk
factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are 65
and older. But Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Up to 5 percent
of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer's (also known as
younger-onset), which often appears when someone is in their 40s or 50s.
Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where
dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early
stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose
the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.
Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Those
with Alzheimer's live an average of eight years after their symptoms
become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years,
depending on age and other health conditions.
Introduction
Who gets early onset Alzheimer's?
Many people with early onset are in their 40s and 50s. They have families, careers
or are even caregivers themselves when Alzheimer's disease strikes. In the
United States, it is estimated that approximately 200,000 people have early onset.

Diagnosing early onset Alzheimer’s:

Since health care providers generally don't look for Alzheimer's disease in
younger people, getting an accurate diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's can be a
long and frustrating process. Symptoms may be incorrectly attributed to stress or
there may be conflicting diagnoses from different health care professionals.
People who have early onset Alzheimer's may be in any stage of dementia – early
stage, middle stage or late stage. The disease affects each person differently and
symptoms will vary.

If you are experiencing memory

problems:
Have a comprehensive medical evaluation with a doctor who specializes in
Alzheimer's disease. Getting a diagnosis involves a medical exam and possibly
cognitive tests, a neurological exam and/or brain imaging. Call your local chapter
of the Alzheimer's Association for a referral. Write down symptoms of memory
loss or other cognitive difficulties to share with your health care professional
Keep in mind that there is no one test that confirms Alzheimer's disease. A
diagnosis is only made after a comprehensive medical evaluation.
Effect of Alzheimer’s
  Alzheimer's disease is one of the costliest chronic diseases to society.
  In 2015, the direct costs to American society of caring for those with Alzheimer's
will total an estimated $226 billion, with half of the costs borne by Medicare.
  Average per-person Medicare spending for people age 65 or older with
Alzheimer's and other dementias is three times higher than for seniors without
dementia. Medicaid payments are 19 times higher.
  Nearly one in every five Medicare dollars is spent on people with Alzheimer's and
other dementias. In 2050, it will be one in every three dollars.
  Unless something is done, in 2050, Alzheimer's is projected to cost over $1.1
trillion (in 2015 dollars). This dramatic rise includes a five-fold increase in
government spending under Medicare and Medicaid and a nearly five-fold increase
in out-of pocket spending
 Prevalence .

 Although there are more non-Hispanic whites living with Alzheimer's and other dementias than
people of any other racial or ethnic group in the United States, older African-Americans and
Hispanics are more likely than older whites to have Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
 The number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias will grow each year as
the size and proportion of the U.S. population age 65 and older continue to increase. By 2025, the
number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to reach 7.1 million — a
40 percent increase from the 5.1 million age 65 and older affected in 2015. By 2050, the number of
people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease may nearly triple, from 5.1 million to a
projected 13.8 million, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure the
disease.

Typical age-related memory loss and other

changes compared to Alzheimer's:
 Typical age-related changes
 Poor judgment and decision making
 Making a bad decision once in a while
 Inability to manage a budget
 Missing a monthly payment
 Losing track of the date or the season
 Forgetting which day it is and remembering later
 Difficulty having a conversation
 Sometimes forgetting which word to use
 Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find
them
 Losing things from time to time

What are the stages of

Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's disease typically progresses slowly in three
general stages — mild (early-stage), moderate (middle-stage),
and severe (late-stage). Since Alzheimer's affects people in
different ways, each person will experience symptoms - or
progress through Alzheimer's stages - differently.
Overview of disease progression:
 Mild Alzheimer's (early-stage)
 Moderate Alzheimer's (middle-stage)
 Severe Alzheimer's (late-stage)
Mild Alzheimer's disease (early-stage):

Although the onset of Alzheimer's disease cannot yet be stopped or reversed,

an early diagnosis can allow a person the opportunity to live well with the
disease for as long as possible and plan. In the initial stages of Alzheimer's, a
person may function independently. He or she may still drive, work and be part
of social activities. Despite this, the person may feel as if he or she is having
memory lapses, such as forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday
objects. Friends, family, or neighbors begin to notice difficulties. During a
detailed medical interview, doctors may be able to detect problems in memory
or concentration. Common difficulties include:
 Problems producing the right word or name.
 Trouble remembering names when introduced to new people.
 Having greater difficulty performing tasks in social or work settings.
 Forgetting material that one has just read.
 Losing or misplacing a valuable object.
 Increasing trouble with planning or organizing.
 Moderate Alzheimer's disease (middle-stage)

During the moderate stage of Alzheimer's, individuals may have greater

difficulty performing tasks such as paying bills, but they may still
remember significant details about their life.
Moderate Alzheimer's is typically the longest stage and can last for many
years. As the disease progresses, the person with Alzheimer's will require a
greater level of care
You may notice the person with Alzheimer's confusing words, getting
frustrated or angry, or acting in unexpected ways, such as refusing to bathe.
Damage to nerve cells in the brain can make it difficult to express thoughts
and perform routine tasks. At this point, symptoms will be noticeable to
others and may include:
 Forgetfulness of events or about one's own personal history
 Feeling moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally
challenging situations
 Being unable to recall their own address or telephone number or
the high school or college from which they graduated.
 Confusion about where they are or what day it is.
 The need for help choosing proper clothing for the season or the
occasion.
 Trouble controlling bladder and bowels in some individuals.
  Changes in sleep patterns, such as sleeping during the day and
becoming restless at night.
 An increased risk of wandering and becoming lost.
 Personality and behavioral changes, including suspiciousness and
delusions or compulsive, repetitive behavior like handwringing or
tissue shredding.

Advanced Alzheimer’s Disease (late-stage):

Late-stage care decisions can be some of the hardest family’s face.

Connect with other caregivers who have been through the process on our
online message boards and get helpful resources in our Caregiver Center.

In the final stage of this disease, individuals lose the ability to respond to
their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control
movement. They may still say words or phrases, but communicating pain
becomes difficult. As memory and cognitive skills continue to worsen,
personality changes may take place and individuals need extensive help
with daily activities. At this stage, individuals may:
 Require full-time, around-the-clock assistance with daily personal
care.
 Lose awareness of recent experiences as well as of their
surroundings
 Require elevated levels of assistance with daily activities and
personal care.
 Experience changes in physical abilities, including the ability to
walk, sit and, eventually, swallow.
 Have increasing difficulty communicating.
  Become vulnerable to infections, especially pneumonia.

Steps to diagnosis
There is no single test that can show whether a person
has Alzheimer's. While physicians can always determine
if a person has dementia, it may be difficult to determine
the exact cause.
Diagnosing Alzheimer's requires careful medical
evaluation, including:
 A thorough medical history
 Mental status testing
 A physical and neurological exam
 Tests (such as blood tests and brain imaging) to
rule out other causes of dementia-like symptoms.
People with memory loss or other warning signs of
Alzheimer's may find it hard to recognize they have a
problem and may resist following up on their symptoms.
Signs of dementia may be more obvious to family
members or friends.
Having trouble with memory does not mean you have
Alzheimer's. Many health issues can cause problems
with memory and thinking. When dementia-like
symptoms are caused by treatable conditions — such
as depression, drug interactions, thyroid problems,
excess use of alcohol or certain vitamin deficiencies —
they may be reversed during the medical workup, your
health care provider will review your medical history. He
or she will want to know about any current and past
illnesses, as well as any medications you are taking. The
doctor will also ask about key medical conditions
affecting other family members, including whether they
may have had Alzheimer's disease or related dementia.

Treatment Horizon
The science of Alzheimer's has advanced to show
potential underlying drivers of the disease. And
we have candidate drugs we can test because of
this basic science knowledge." - Richard Mohs,
Ph.D.
A worldwide quest is under way to find new
treatments to stop, slow or even prevent
Alzheimer's. Because new drugs take years to
produce from concept to market—and because
drugs that seem promising in early-stage studies
may not work as hoped in large-scale trials—it is
critical that Alzheimer's and related dementias
research continue to accelerate. To ensure that
the effort to find better treatments receives the
focus it deserves, the Alzheimer's Association
funds researchers looking at new treatment
strategies and advocates for more federal funding
of Alzheimer's research.

CONCLUSIONS
Over the last 30 years, researchers have made
remarkable progress in understanding healthy brain
function and what goes wrong in Alzheimer's disease.
The following are examples of promising targets for
next-generation drug therapies under investigation in
current research studies:
Beta-amyloid is the chief component of plaques, one
hallmark Alzheimer's brain abnormality. Scientists now
have a detailed understanding of how this protein
fragment is clipped from its parent compound amyloid
precursor protein (APP) by two enzymes — beta-
secretase and gamma-secretase. Researchers are
developing medications aimed at virtually every point in
amyloid processing. This includes blocking activity of
both enzymes; preventing the beta-amyloid fragments
from clumping into plaques; and even using antibodies
against beta-amyloid to clear it from the brain. Several
clinical trials of investigational drugs targeting beta-
amyloid are included below in the key clinical trial
summary.
Tau protein is the chief component of tangles, the other
hallmark brain abnormality. Researchers are
investigating strategies to keep tau molecules from
collapsing and twisting into tangles, a process that
destroys a vital cell transport system.
Inflammation is another key Alzheimer's brain
abnormality. Scientists have learned a great deal about
molecules involved in the body's overall inflammatory
response and are working to better understand specific
aspects of inflammation most active in the brain. These
insights may point to novel anti-inflammatory
treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
Insulin resistance and the way brain cells process
insulin may be linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers are exploring the role of insulin in the
brain and closely related questions of how brain cells
use sugar and produce energy. These investigations
may reveal strategies to support cell function and stave
off Alzheimer-related changes.
References

 Biological Science: Third Edition

By, N. P. O. Green (Author), G. W.
Stout (Author), D. J. Taylor
(Author), R. Soper (Editor)
 Exploring Biology By, Ella Thea Smith
 NCERT Text Book
 Tell Me Why
 Encyclopaedia Britannica