Every 66 seconds someone across the globe is phased with Alzheimer's. Unfortunately this neurodegenerative disease succeeds in destroying memory and other essential mental components needed for function and everyday processing. With the drastic spread of this worldwide disease in the elderly population (typically ages 65 and older) the race to find the cure continues.
Among the many research studies that have been conducted, Dr. Roberto Fernandez excels in explaining the root of Alzheimer's and its progressive pathology developed within the brain. The brain is a deeply integrated and complex system, and to indulge in such subject, Dr Fernandez approaches it by studying particular areas of the brain that are more prone to Alzheimer's. Specifically the hippocampus, which is a huge component for memory formation, and tends to be damaged the most. Dr. Fernandez investigates on a more microscopic scale and concludes that there seems to be the presence of abnormal deposits of protein known as Beta Amyloid. Ultimately these proteins tend to malfunction and accumulate in a great degree of plaque formation, which skews brain function. To put this research into context Dr Fernandez experimented with individuals who had Alzheimer's and their response to driving simulations. Three groups with distinct characteristics were formulated, the first group consisted of young normal control subjects (YNC), the second was older normal subjects (ONC) and the last group was individuals with onset of early Alzheimer's (EAD). Various stimulus were introduced, in which event related potentials were used (N200) to measure the change in environmental stimulus. Dr Fernandez discovered that individuals were able to respond significantly well to the variable of increments in motion. However there was a distinct change in acceleration. It was noted that patients with early stages of alzheimer's had a much lower response to acceleration.
Driving simulation is just one of the everyday examples among many that illustrate Alzheimer's disease and its overtaking and limiting control on the human brain. Over the past few years there has been much research on learning how to speak a second language can delay Alzheimer's and further boost brain power. According to Ellen Bialystok, a psychologist at York University in Toronto, “Being bilingual has certain cognitive benefits and boosts the performance of the brain, especially one of the most important areas known as the executive control system.” Although bilingualism may not directly stop Alzheimer's, it can still play a significant impact on counteracting the presence of it. In other words, performance is higher and individuals are able to cope with the disease for a longer period of time. In Bialystok’s recent research she observed 211 people with a possibility of Alzheimer's disease. 102 of whom were bilingual and 109 monolingual, and noted the age at which the patient's' cognitive impairment had started. Her results showed that bilingual patients had been diagnosed 4.3 years later, on average, and had reported onset of symptoms 5.1 years later than monolingual patients. However on the other end of the spectrum there has been much research that disproves the idea of bilingualism being beneficial towards Alzheimer's disease. Rather it seems to be a conflict and can hinder cognitive development.
Regardless of the new research and techniques that are being tested or administered, it is evident that Alzheimer's disease continues to expand and be a topic of discussion. Tying both of the research from the articles cannot lead to a simple explanation of the “ideal” cure. However it is important to take into account of Dr. Fernandez and Psychologist Ellen Bialystok’s approach on studying specific elements of the human brain and correlating it to the fundamental characters of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
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