Date post: | 11-Jul-2015 |
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Health & Medicine |
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Sarah Jane CalubKrystalyna Montano
http://www.freewebs.com/rbannerm/AD_2003.jpg
VAMPIRE DNA: A CURE FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
WHAT ISALZHEIMER’SDISEASE?
AD causes memory impairments from early stages, probably because of cell death in the
basal forebrain, an area that produces the chemical acetylcholine, which facilitates
brain plasticity, or the ability to learn.
http://www.dementiaguide.com/images/DGI-Ill-Acetylcholine.jpg
Short-TermMemory• also called “primary memory”
or “active memory”
• the capacity to hold a small amount of information in a short period of time
• average capacity, without maintenance rehearsal, is 7±2 items
http://kenoath.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/brain_limbic.jpg
The BIG Picture• As many as 5.3 million people in the US are living
with Alzheimer’s disease.
• Every 70 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
• Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading cause of death in the US.
• Alzheimer’s disease is predicted to nearly double every 20 years.
http://www.reedpsp.com/images/US_Map.gif
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Today2030
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People living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia in the US
Harness unique Vampire “gene” that may repair STM damage in AD patients.
andFind a cure for Alzheimer’s to prevent these numbers from increasing rapidly in the near future.
Goal
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Groups TestedGroup One•humans with no known STM disorders•ages 50 - 65Group Two•humans diagnosed with AD•ages 50 - 65•no medication for 6 months prior to experimentationGroup Three•Vampires containing same strain of gene
Pre-ExperimentStudies• Recent study found vampire gene that helps
vampires produce more acetylcholine, increasing their STM ability
• “Gene” has been extracted and has potential to mutate human DNA, just as venom does during transformation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ACh-stick.png
ACh
Methods1. Test all three groups for STM ability through a 20-question
test, lasting about 10 minutes each. Mass spectrometry will be used to measure acetylcholine levels.
2. Record scores based on performance.3. Inject Vampire “gene” into bloodstream of AD patients.4. Allow 2 weeks for mutation to occur.5. Test subjects again using a similar test (same format, different
questions). MS will measure ACh levels.6. Compare results to initial tests to observe improvements.7. 2 weeks after the second test, test subjects once more to
observe if their STM continued to improve.
Sample STM Test
HOUSE
Was the word in lower case letters?
ball
Does the word rhyme with “mall”?
feet
Does the word fit in the sentence:“No smoking within 20 ______”?
Results
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0 Weeks 2 Weeks 4 Weeks
AD Patients Non-AD Patients Vampires
Results2 Weeks After Injection30 people had 60% more ACh30 people had 45% more ACh40 people had 35% more ACh
4 Weeks After Injection50 people had 95% more ACh40 people had 92.5% more ACh10 people had 90% more ACh
ConclusionThe mutation that occurred when Vampire “gene” was introduced to Alzheimer’s patients, is an effective way to treat the disease by increasing the secretion of ACh in the brain, preventing further damage and increasing brain plasticity.
ACh levels in AD patients may continue to increase over time, further increasing their memory capacities.
Applications
This method may eliminate current medications for Alzheimer’s, and may be a permanent cure for AD.
http://www.alz.org/brain/03.asp