Pharmacology and Pathophysiology: Calcium Ions in Alzheimer's Disease

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This report delves into the intricate relationship between calcium ions and Alzheimer's disease, highlighting their impact on memory loss and synaptic abnormalities. It explores how calcium dysregulation, particularly in the endoplasmic reticulum, contributes to the disease's pathogenesis. The report discusses the involvement of various amyloid proteins in inducing calcium influx into neurons, which alters neurological excitability. Furthermore, it examines potential therapeutic interventions, including cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, which are used to manage the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The conclusion emphasizes that while the exact drugs targeting calcium dysregulation are not yet available, other medications acting on synaptic function are currently used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Pharmacology and Pathophysiology 1
Pharmacology and Pathophysiology
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Pharmacology and Pathophysiology 2
Abstract
Introduction
The Alzheimer’s disease involves a decrease in memories. The synaptic loss is
usually the major defects in the memory loss (Hsu, Lane and Lin, 2018). Calcium ions play
a major role in signaling abnormalities mostly by affecting the endoplasmic reticulum.
The Familial Alzheimer’s disease mutations in the presenilins are directly linked
endoplasmic reticulum calcium ions leaked function presenilins (Amidfar, Kim and Wiborg,
2018). As a result, calcium ions dysregulation is involved in Alzheimer's
disease(Popugaeva, Vlasova and Bezprozvanny, 2015). 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 (Hsu, Lane and Lin, 2018). In that case,
therefore, calcium ions might be the key to the step of studying the pathogenesis of
Alzheimer's disease(Popugaeva, Pchitskaya and Bezprozvanny, 2017).
Key points
Calcium ions are involved in abnormalities affecting the endoplasmic reticulum.
The delayed calcium ions signaling in the in the synaptic loss may be the key
reason for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease(Popugaeva, Pchitskaya and
Bezprozvanny, 2017).
Calcium ions normally target the synaptic calcium signaling pathways which may
offer a pathway for development of other Alzheimer's disease medications (Dyer et
al., 2017).
However, there are various drugs used in the treatment of the disease namely
Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine (Alzheimer's Association, 2018).
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Pharmacology and Pathophysiology 3
Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the break down of acetylcholine, delay
worsening and are generally tolerated (Downey, 2013).
Memantine helps to improve memory, reasoning, language and increase people
performance of little tasks (Alzheimer's Association, 2018).
Conclusion
Calcium ions dysregulation has been proved to be involved in poor synaptic abnormalities
affecting people with azheymas disease. Exact drug acting on calcium is not yet available but
other medications acting on synaptic have been developed which include memantine and
Cholinesterase inhibitors.
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.
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Pharmacology and Pathophysiology 4
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.
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.
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