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The Aging Brain & Disease
Term Paper ID:27938
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Essay Subject:
Presents effects of aging on the brain. Discusses neural loss, neural shrinkage, & structural & chemical changes that take place.... More...
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4 Pages / 900 Words
4 sources, 10 Citations,
APA Format
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Paper Abstract:
Presents effects of aging on the brain. Discusses neural loss, neural shrinkage, & structural & chemical changes that take place.
Paper Introduction:
One of the ironies of growing older is that just as one begins to acquire wisdom, senility may also be setting in. Most experts seem to agree that many of us will experience noticeable mental decline by age 65. After age 50 some important areas of the brain lose considerable numbers of neurons (Selkoe, 1992). But it is not clear how such alterations in size and density relate to mental function, or whether these or other organic shifts influence the rate of cognitive decline. However, by the age of 65-74, 3% of the population have some cognitive impairment and by 85, nearly half may be demented (Hachinski, 1992).
Some of the more specific , non-disease, changes in the brain have been studied and summarized by Selkoe (1992). He states that structural and chemical modifications that typify the aging brain become apparent in late middle life, in the 50s and
Text of the Paper:
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Higherthought processes take place in these region and it is speculated that suchenzyme-rich areas my underlie "wisdom." (Allison, 1993)The Aging Brain and Disease Selkoe (1992) has claimed that Alzheimer's disease is linked to beta-amyloid deposits in genetic mutations . He states that structuraland chemical modifications that typify the aging brain become apparent inlate middle life, in the 5 s and 6 s. That in turn may trigger a loss of memory and mentalfunctioning and ultimately death. In old rats the signaling ability of hippocampal neurons was notimpaired by chronic stress, but some of the neurons died (Allison, 1993).It has also been pointed out that while the emphasis of research has beenon the toll that aging takes on the brain, little has been discussed aboutthe ways in which the human brain may improve with age. Aging brain, aging mind. (1988). Selkoe (1992) also maintains thatnot all neuronal changes are necessarily destructive. Neurobiology of Aging, 8(6), 521-545.Selkoe, D. But it is not clear how such alterations insize and density relate to mental function, or whether these or otherorganic shifts influence the rate of cognitive decline. The neurons seem to disappear at different ratesdepending upon the area of the brain. Scientific American, pp. InOctober of 1993 Duke University Medical Center scientists offered atentative explanation for what they claimed were 6 % of Alzheimer'scases. He believes that as individuals growolder, the overall number of brain neurons decreases, but the pattern issupposedly not uniform. These DNA mutations occur withinthe gene that gives rise to the beta-amyloid precursor protein, or beta-APP. (1987, November/December). Some may representattempts by surviving neurons to compensate for loss or shrinkage of otherneurons and their projections. In plainer language it sounds as if Dr. Selkoe is focusing onthe notion that an Alzheimer patient's brain is lettered with plaquecontaining an insoluble sticky material called beta amykloid. There is one typeof neuron which becomes more abundant during adulthood and is preserved inhealthy older people, although it dies off in the brains of people withAlzheimer's disease (Allison, 1993). 135-142.Gupta, U. Attempts to do so appearto be complicated by dozens of medical problems common to the elderly--including depression, long-standing alcoholism and certain vitamindeficiencies--any of which may produce dramatic declines in cognitiveability of neurological integrity (Weindruch & Walford, (1988). This precursor, according to Selkoe, includes within it the beta-amyloid protein that constitutes both senile plaques and vascular amyloiddeposits. The retardation of aging and disease by dietary restriction. After age 5 some important areas of the brain lose considerable numbersof neurons (Selkoe, 1992). Thomas. J. Selko (1992) has listed some of the brain structures involved inlearning, memory and reasoning, that normally undergo a number of anatomicchanges later in life that can potentially impair cognition.Cerebral Cortex: Large neurons shrink and amyloid deposits develop in extracellular spaces.Thalmas: Selected Neurons shrink or dieBasal Forebrain: Acetylcholine-secreting neurons shrink or dieAmygdala: Amyloid deposits develop in extracellular spaces and neurofibrillary tangles develop within neuronsHippocampus: Large neurons shrink or die. He seems tobe theorizing that because the plaque kills nerve cells, blocking plaqueformation might prevent Alzheimer's disease. These Duke researchers also argued thatprevailing theories driving most Alzheimer's research may be wrong.including the theories behind the thinking of Dr. Selkoe (Wall StreetJournal, 1993).Conclusion From this brief review of some prominent thinking on aging and thebrain, it is clear that much is still to be discovered. However, by theage of 65-74, 3% of the population have some cognitive impairment and by85, nearly half may be demented (Hachinski, 1992). Some of the more specific , non-disease, changes in the brain havebeen studied and summarized by Selkoe (1992). They suggested that inheriting a certain blood protein can set offa chemical cascade deep inside brain cells, causing them to collapse anddisintegrate. It would seem to me thatthe process of continuing to ask questions of yourself or others and inturn seeking out the answers is the type of stimulating dynamic whichnerve cells would respond to. Alzheimer's theory shakes some budding start-ups. These cells are loaded with theenzyme acetylcholinesterase, which helps neurons in the hippocampus andneocortex to burn a type of fuel that they rely on to communicate. (1993, December 1). B2.Weindruch, R., & Walford, R. Chicago, IL: Charles C. Amyloid deposits develop in extracellular spaces and neurofibrillary tangles develop within neuronsLocus Coeruleus: Neurons die Research has also indicated that attempts to find an associationbetween brain size or cell number and intelligence have failed(Allison,1991). Most experts seem toagree that many of us will experience noticeable mental decline by age 65. (1992, September). Furthermore it is very difficult to describe whatconstitutes normal, healthy, aging of the brain. However, as with other research on aging and the brain, the originsand causes of Alzheimer's disease is still a subject of much debate.Recently a radically new theory of Alzheimer's has become public. By the 7 s some of these changeshave become even more pronounced. D., & Flood, D. The older people are, the longer theirbrains have been buffeted by pollution and stress. The basic message of much of this researchmay be "use it or lose it." ReferencesColeman, P. One of the ironies of growing older is that just as one begins toacquire wisdom, senility may also be setting in. In addition some investigators suspect that environmental insultscause brains to wear out faster. G. In young ratsstress disrupted communication among neurons in the hippocampus, a part ofthe brain critical for learning and memory, but did not cause brain cellsto die. It seems that muchof the research into brain aging is involved with devising strategies forhalting the disease processes or boosting the power of healthy brains.Sometimes, these aims may converge, as in the case of Alzheimer's disease. Neuron numbers and dendrite extent in normal aging and Alzheimer's Disease. It certainly would be nice to believe that a cure could be found forAlzheimer's and that it might be possible to improve the brain functioningof the elderly It may also be the case that the hope for improving brain function inthe elderly may not just be one of attempting to reverse damage. It mayalso be a matter of preserving and amplifying the strengths that maypersist in older brains. J. Wall Street Journal, p. One study recentlyfound that exposing rats to mild but chronic stress accelerated brainchanges that are usually attributed to the passage of time. However, it is also probably the true that someaspects of brain aging may resist manipulation.
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