The Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease

Thèmes abordés

Down Syndrom, Health Care management, Alzheimer's disease

Résumé du document

I have chosen three academic journal articles and four industry journal articles.

The first couple of articles of the 'NY Times' describe the Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease, by elaborating on their causes, symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, evolution of the diseases, complications and preventive measures. The third 'NY Times' article interviewed a woman whose brother suffers from Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. Down syndrome patients are relatively vulnerable to developing Alzheimer's disease at an early age due to the presence of the amyloid plaques in their brains.

The fourth article from the WSJ is related to the new President's program regarding these two dreaded medical conditions. Obama decided to remove limits on funding for embryonic stem cell research which could provide the answer to many diseases including diabetes and Alzheimer's.

The fifth and sixth articles from academic journals are related to the alternative way of detecting Down syndrome during pregnancy. The article about FASTER Consortium US shows how screening can be useful and risk free contrary to amniocentesis that is potentially dangerous and could lead to miscarriage. The other article provides details for future mothers on the safe but not 100% sure Nuchal Translucency screening method to detect birth defects.

The subject of the last article is the susceptibility of bacteria strains to essential oils. This survey shows how oil can be effective against strain bacteria and can be used to minimize the risk of diseases of microbial origin and prevent several pathological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

These articles are important because they help one to comprehensively understand the lesser known facts about Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease, and how both diseases can be connected. It also gives advice and information regarding the prevention of birth defects. These articles also highlight how important ongoing research and technological advances in stem cell research is helping scientists and medical practitioners around the world to combat these diseases.

Extraits

[...] In conclusion and in my opinion, the Down syndrome and the Alzheimer's disease need to be seriously treated. We need to step further and make research by using our new technology. Progress is inevitable. Looking back kill people. We have to accept changes. Obama's new plan is greatly welcomed and is one small part in the future progress. Solution can be natural as the essential oil or not. We have the power to fight death. About the birth defects I think that we need to control more and more foetus, because having a baby with the Down syndrome can be very dangerous for it: heart disease, eye problems such as cataracts and very difficult for the parents. [...]

[...] We should convince Pharmaceutics firm to develop some alternative medicine solution. The NY Times article on the relation between the Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease shows that people with Down syndrome tend to live longer. People as Gerry Thomas receive a pension each month. When we think about longer life, it leads to higher costs. We have the same problem with the general aging population. Moreover, people with Down syndrome that tend to develop a second mental disease will be an extra cost of care. [...]

[...] I will maybe have customer with Down syndrome or Alzheimer's disease, or both. After reading these articles I realized how researches are important. I won't work in the medical department however I can help people with these mental diseases. I think it would be great to think about a way to facilitate their banking life. People with Down syndrome need to have as much independence as they can. We all know how bank accounts are complex and most of us don't understand how they really work: fees, saving accounts We need to help them. [...]

[...] Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2007. ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 77: screening for fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Obstet Gynecol Jan;109(1):217-27. AAP Committee on Genetics. Health supervision for children with Down syndrome. Pediatrics Feb;107(2):442-9 From : http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/down- syndrome/overview.html?scp=2&sq=down%20syndrom&st=cse K. Mounchid , F. Bourjilat, N. Dersi, T. Aboussaouira, A. Rachidai, A. Tantaoui-Elaraki, M. Alaoui-Ismaili African Journal of Biotechnology Vol pp. [...]

[...] However some scientists think that it would help a lot to treat disease. It is very difficult to determine if yes or no a solution has an ethic problem. Each people have its own judgement and we will never agree on such problems. The question is who is going to decide? The dolly sheep has been very criticized but has showed a lot of possible treatment and solution. I think that religion can also be a brake to scientific progress. [...]