10) Gene therapy is a technique aimed at correcting mutated genes that cause human diseases. Before it becomes an effective treatment, viral vectors that are nontoxic and do not activate a body’s defense reaction needs to be…
· This is an example because it showed that L-dopa could be used not only for patients with Parkinson’s disease but also to awaken patients in comas from Encephalitis…
On one hand, it seeks to root out the cause of diseases which have no cure, rather than only treating its symptoms. However, treatments vary from disease to disease. In the case of cystic fibrosis, the effects of treatment do not last very long, and in SCID-X1, the treatment has led to risks of leukaemia. There is an ethical concern that it could modify human capabilities, thus altering the standards of normal human life. Gene therapy is also a very expensive form of treatment and hence should be regulated effectively. Gene therapy has a remarkable therapeutic potential (14) and this should be exploited. Through effective research and regulation, gene therapy has the potential to cure genetic diseases, eliminate any possible side effects and usher in a new standard of…
Even today, much is still not directly understood how the brain works. The 1950s marks the start of the field of biopsychology focusing on Penfield as he began to research into neurochemistry and underlying behavior it causes. From this, scientists began to learn about the structure of the brain and how neurotransmitters and electrochemical signals are used in order to communicate throughout the body. Development of more specialized equipment and research into pharmaceuticals and surgical techniques has lead to a greater understanding of how the brain works and the ways in which disorders can be treated in…
Fisher, Abraham. Advances in Alzheimer 's and Parkinson 's Disease: Insights, Progress, and Perspectives. New York: Springer, 2008. Print. This text goes in depth explaining the possible advances in curing Alzheimer’s disease. Also, it tells how far the research has come since the earliest research in curing the disease. Alzheimer’s disease research has advanced a lot since the beginning. The text includes a few graphs which depict the advances in technology used, and the progress that has been made in the ongoing research. The text is a decent source for those who are looking into the scientific research side of Alzheimer’s disease. It also shows how different perspectives on the topic have brought different outcomes in research. No matter the stance, the text clearly shows there have been advances in research and it gives a positive outlook to the reader.…
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common causes of dementia. The term 'dementia' describes a set of symptoms, which can include memory loss, changes in mood and problems with communication and reasoning. These symptoms occur when certain diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, damage the brain. Alzheimer's disease could be described as a physical disease affecting the brain. During the course of the disease, protein 'plaques' and 'tangles' develop in the structure of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells. People with Alzheimer's may also have a shortage of some important chemicals in their brain. These chemicals are involved with the transmission of messages within the brain.…
Parkinson’s patients could prove to be effective with his patients. The vegetative state in which…
1. How do doctors and researchers decide whether a disease is a good candidate for gene therapy?…
The most prevalent brain disorders are schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. But this excludes cases that involve homicide and sexual assault.…
Review the range of groups and individuals whose communication needs must be addressed in your own work job role.…
In the 1960s, scientists discovered a link between cognitive decline and the number of plaques and tangles in the brain. The medical community then formally recognized Alzheimer’s as a disease and not a normal part of aging. In the 1970s, scientists made great strides in understanding the human body as a whole, and Alzheimer’s disease emerged as a significant area of research interest. This increased attention led in the 1990s to important discoveries and a better understanding of complex nerve cells in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. More research was done on Alzheimer’s disease susceptibility genes, and several drugs were approved to treat the cognitive symptoms of the disease.…
Despite rapid scientific progress, many people of the public feel somewhat excluded from the debate surrounding the application of science in new technologies and products. Moreover, as scientific progress becomes increasingly fundamental to society, it is becoming equally difficult to stop it from clashing with long-held ethical values. One common and long standing debate is gene therapy. In 2005, a public survey was conducted to see people’s attitudes towards human gene therapy and while 82% stated that they would accept somatic therapy for major illnesses like heart disease, only 64% supported…
A second example of promising new research is that ordinary skin cells are being morphed into function brain cells. This research could provide a new way to overcome diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy (CP), and other rare genetic disorders called leukodystrophies by replacing the myelinating cells that are destroyed. The scientists in charge of the research are in the process of working on a way to translate this process from the mice cells they have been experimenting on to human cells for a possible cure, or at least a treatment, for neuron disorders. The bulk of the research is being conducted in parts of the body were neuron disorders are causing myelinating cells to be destroyed. This research causes for great excitement because it could be the means to provide a very plausible and viable treatment option for this type of neuron…
In 1906 a German neurologist Alois Alzheimer performed a neurological autopsy on a 56-year-old woman who had suffered deteriorating mental health for many years before her death. Alzheimer noticed a disorganization of nerve cells in her cerebral cortex, the area of the brain responsible for controlling memory and reasoning. There were two oddities he found. The first was an accumulation of cellular debris surrounding the nerves…
thoughts and emotions of either one person or of an entire community. A clinical study…