Sarah Jane CalubKrystalyna Montano

http://www.freewebs.com/rbannerm/AD_2003.jpg

VAMPIRE DNA: A CURE FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

WHAT ISALZHEIMER’SDISEASE?

AD causes memory impairments from early stages, probably because of cell death in the

basal forebrain, an area that produces the chemical acetylcholine, which facilitates

brain plasticity, or the ability to learn.

http://www.dementiaguide.com/images/DGI-Ill-Acetylcholine.jpg

http://www.alz.org/brain/09.asp

Short-TermMemory• also called “primary memory”

or “active memory”

• the capacity to hold a small amount of information in a short period of time

• average capacity, without maintenance rehearsal, is 7±2 items

http://kenoath.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/brain_limbic.jpg

The BIG Picture• As many as 5.3 million people in the US are living

with Alzheimer’s disease.

• Every 70 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.

• Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading cause of death in the US.

• Alzheimer’s disease is predicted to nearly double every 20 years.

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2050

People living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia in the US

Harness unique Vampire “gene” that may repair STM damage in AD patients.

andFind a cure for Alzheimer’s to prevent these numbers from increasing rapidly in the near future.

Goal

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Groups TestedGroup One•humans with no known STM disorders•ages 50 - 65Group Two•humans diagnosed with AD•ages 50 - 65•no medication for 6 months prior to experimentationGroup Three•Vampires containing same strain of gene

Pre-ExperimentStudies• Recent study found vampire gene that helps

vampires produce more acetylcholine, increasing their STM ability

• “Gene” has been extracted and has potential to mutate human DNA, just as venom does during transformation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ACh-stick.png

ACh

Methods1. Test all three groups for STM ability through a 20-question

test, lasting about 10 minutes each. Mass spectrometry will be used to measure acetylcholine levels.

2. Record scores based on performance.3. Inject Vampire “gene” into bloodstream of AD patients.4. Allow 2 weeks for mutation to occur.5. Test subjects again using a similar test (same format, different

questions). MS will measure ACh levels.6. Compare results to initial tests to observe improvements.7. 2 weeks after the second test, test subjects once more to

observe if their STM continued to improve.

Sample STM Test

HOUSE

Was the word in lower case letters?

ball

Does the word rhyme with “mall”?

feet

Does the word fit in the sentence:“No smoking within 20 ______”?

Results

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AD Patients Non-AD Patients Vampires

Results2 Weeks After Injection30 people had 60% more ACh30 people had 45% more ACh40 people had 35% more ACh

4 Weeks After Injection50 people had 95% more ACh40 people had 92.5% more ACh10 people had 90% more ACh

ConclusionThe mutation that occurred when Vampire “gene” was introduced to Alzheimer’s patients, is an effective way to treat the disease by increasing the secretion of ACh in the brain, preventing further damage and increasing brain plasticity.

ACh levels in AD patients may continue to increase over time, further increasing their memory capacities.

Applications

This method may eliminate current medications for Alzheimer’s, and may be a permanent cure for AD.

http://www.alz.org/brain/03.asp