The Three Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes.

These neurons, which produce the brain chemical, or neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, break connections with other nerve cells and ultimately die. For example, short-term memory fails when Alzheimer's disease first destroys nerve cells in the hippocampus, and language skills and judgment decline when neurons die in the cerebral cortex.

Early (Mild) Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
-Forget words or misplace objects
-Forget something they just read
-Ask the same question over and over
-Have increasing trouble making plans or organizing
-Not remember names when meeting new people

Middle (Moderate) Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
-Increased memory loss and confusion
-Problems recognizing family and friends
-Continuously repeating stories, favorite wants
(e.g., foods, places, songs, etc.), or motions
-Decreased ability to perform complex tasks
(e.g., planning dinner) or handle personal finances
(e.g., paying bills)
-Lack of concern for hygiene and appearance
-Requiring assistance in choosing proper clothing
to wear for day, season, or occasion

Late (Severe) Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
-Recognize faces but forget names
-Mistake a person for someone else
-Delusions—such as thinking he/she needs to go to work — may set in,
even though he/she no longer has a job
-There is a strong need for holding something close for tactile stimulation, nurturing, companionship and comfort
-Basic abilities such as eating, walking, and sitting up fade during this period; the individual may no longer recognize when he is thirsty or hungry and will need help with all basic activities of daily living.

Contact APG Clinical Research today to see if you can qualify for one of our clinical studies involving Alzheimer's.

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APG Has An Adolescent Bipolar Disorder Study

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme shifts in a person's mood and energy levels.

This condition, characterized by extreme highs and lows in mood, affects more than half a million Americans.

A person with bipolar disorder may experience euphoric highs (sometimes called manic episodes, or mania) and lows that can be similar to depression.

These shifts are more severe than the normal changes in mood that affect everyone, and they can affect your ability to complete day-to-day tasks.

Bipolar Disorder Prevalence

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 2.6 percent of U.S. adults, or roughly 600,000 Americans, have bipolar disorder.

More than 80 percent of all cases of the disorder are classified as severe, according to the NIMH.

Researchers don't know the exact cause of bipolar disorder, but it has been linked to genetics, brain structure, and brain functioning.

Recent studies suggest that bipolar disorder runs in families and that people with certain genes mutations — particularly in the ODZ4, NCAN, and CACNA1C genes — are more likely to develop the condition.

But many more genetic and environmental factors are also likely to be involved.

Contact APG Clinical Research today to see if you can qualify for one of our clinical studies involving BiPolar Disorder.

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Tourette’s disorder: What You Need to Know

Tourette’s disorder is a neurological condition characterized by involuntary movements and sounds called “tics.” Tics are sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic movements or vocalizations. Different children have different tics, such as blinking, twitching, barking, throat clearing, coughing, or repeating certain words. Some people with the disorder experience outbursts of profanity, although this particular tic is actually quite rare. To be diagnosed with Tourette’s a child must have both motor and vocal tics which have persisted—though they may wax and wane—for at least a year.

Boys are at least twice as likely to be diagnosed with Tourette’s than girls. Genetic links to tic disorders have been identified; children with a family history of the disorder are more likely to develop them.

Tourette’s disorder cannot be cured, but it can be treated through a combination of behavioral therapy and medication.

There are a variety of medications commonly prescribed to help control the symptoms of Tourette’s disorder, and an experienced professional should closely monitor any course. A doctor may prescribe neuroleptic medications, which appear to help control tics by blocking the brain’s dopamine neurotransmitters.

Contact APG Clinical Research today to see if your child can qualify for one of our clinical studies involving Tourette's Disorder.

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See If Your Child Can Be A Part Of An Autism Study

Each child with autism is unique and, so, each autism intervention plan should be tailored to address specific needs.

Intervention can involve behavioral treatments, medicines or both. Many persons with autism have additional medical conditions such as sleep disturbance, seizures and gastrointestinal (GI) distress. Addressing these conditions can improve attention, learning and related behaviors.

Early intensive behavioral intervention involves a child's entire family, working closely with a team of professionals. In some early intervention programs, therapists may come into the home to deliver services. This can include parent training with the parent leading therapy sessions under the supervision of the therapist. Other programs deliver therapy in a specialized center, classroom or preschool

Typically, different interventions and supports become appropriate as a child develops and acquires social and learning skills. As children with autism enter school, for example, they may benefit from targeted social skills training and specialized approaches to teaching.

Contact APG Clinical Research today to see if your child can qualify for one of our clinical studies involving Autism.

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Tourette Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome is one type of Tic Disorder. Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations. They are the defining feature of a group of childhood-onset, neurodevelopmental conditions known collectively as Tic Disorders and individually as Tourette Syndrome, Chronic Tic Disorder (Motor or Vocal Type), and Provisional Tic Disorder. The three Tic Disorders are distinguished by the types of tics present (motor, vocal/ phonic, or both) and by the length of time that the tics have been present.

Individuals with Tourette Syndrome (TS) have had at least two motor tics and at least one vocal/ phonic tic in some combination over the course of more than a year. By contrast, individuals with Chronic Tic Disorder have either motor tics or vocal tics that have been present for more than a year, and individuals with Provisional Tic Disorder have tics that have been present for less than a year.

Contact APG Clinical Research today to see if your child can qualify for one of our clinical studies.

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