Pharmacology and Pathophysiology: Calcium Ions in Alzheimer's

This assignment explores the role of calcium ions as neural transmitters and their dysregulation in Alzheimer's disease. It highlights how calcium ions, stimulated by action potentials, can affect electrical conductivity in neurons, leading to abnormalities and disease. The paper discusses the involvement of amyloid proteins in inducing calcium influx, altering neurological excitability, and the pharmacology of treatments such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent acetylcholine breakdown, while memantine regulates glutamate activity to improve memory and cognitive functions. The assignment emphasizes the relevance of this study to nursing, providing insights into the effects of calcium in Alzheimer's patients and offering a basis for further research, along with implications for patient care and understanding of available drug treatments, their side effects, and precautions.

Pharmacology and Pathophysiology 1
Pharmacology and Pathophysiology
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Pharmacology and Pathophysiology 2
Calcium ions act as neural transmitters where they are stimulated by action potential
enabling them to open voltages dependant calcium Channels (Hsu, Lane and Lin, 2018) In
neurons, calcium ions acts as transmitters where they can alter the electrical conductivity by
modifying the closing of sodium and potassium channels in order to stimulate the release of a
neural transmitter substances (Popugaeva, Pchitskaya, and Bezprozvanny, 2017) . This, in
turn, leads to calcium ions mediated abnormalities that can lead to a disease. As a result,
calcium ions dysregulation is involved in Alzheimer's disease(Small, 2009). Various amyloid
proteins have been proved to be involved in the induction of calcium ions influx into neurons,
making this calcium reflux alters neurological excitability. There are various drugs used in
the treatment of the disease namely Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine (Downey,
2013). Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the break down of acetylcholine, delay worsening
and are generally tolerated. Memantine, on the other hand, acts by helping to improve
memory, reasoning, language and increase people performance of little tasks (Downey, 2013).
The memantane medication acts to regulate the activity of glutamate a chemical that
is used in processing, storage, and retrieval of information(Marum, 2014). On the other hand,
cholinesterase inhibitors act to prevent the break down of acetylcholine which is usually
crucial in learning and memory (Downey, 2013). The drug also slow worsening of the
symptoms and their complications are well tolerated(Small, 2013). These drugs include
Donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine. The relevance of this study to the field of nursing
include it help nurse to understand the effect of calcium in a patient with Alzheimer disease
and offer a gap for research. Other than that, nurses and patients are able to understand
different types of drugs available for treatment and their side effects and precautions.

Pharmacology and Pathophysiology 3

Pharmacology and Pathophysiology 4
References
Amidfar, M., Kim, Y. and Wiborg, O. (2018). The effectiveness of memantine on depression-
like behavior, memory deficits and brain mRNA levels of BDNF and TrkB in rats subjected
to repeated unpredictable stress. Pharmacological Reports, 70(3), pp.600-606.
Alzheimer's Association. (2018). Latest Medication for Memory Loss | Alzheimer's
Association. Available at:
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_standard_prescriptions.asp
Dyer, S., Harrison, S., Laver, K., Whitehead, C. and Crotty, M. (2017). An overview of
systematic reviews of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the
treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. International
Psychogeriatrics, 30(03), pp.295-309.
Downey, D. (2013). Pharmacologic Management of Alzheimer Disease. Journal of
Neuroscience Nursing, 40(1), pp.55-59.
Hsu, W., Lane, H. and Lin, C. (2018). Medications Used for Cognitive Enhancement in
Patients With Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s
Disease.Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9.

Pharmacology and Pathophysiology 5
Marum, R. (2014). Update on the use of memantine in Alzheimer’s
disease.Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, p.237.
Popugaeva, E., Pchitskaya, E. and Bezprozvanny, I. (2017). Dysregulation of neuronal
calcium homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease – A therapeutic opportunity?. Biochemical and
Biophysical Research Communications, 483(4), pp.998-1004.
Popugaeva, E., Vlasova, O. and Bezprozvanny, I. (2015). Restoring calcium homeostasis to
treat Alzheimer's disease: a future perspective. Neurodegenerative Disease Management,
5(5), pp.395-398.
Small, D. (2013). Dysregulation of Calcium Homeostasis in Alzheimer’s
Disease.Neurochemical Research, 34(10), pp.1824-1829.