In this seminar, pathophysiology of three major brain diseases, i.e. Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis, will be discussed.
1) Alzheimer’s disease is the most important reason of dementia for elderly adults. Amyloid hypothesis is considered as the pathophysiological mechanism. In the seminar, we will introduce: a) what is amyloid hypothesis? How amyloid peptides, the major components of senile plaque, are produced and cleaned in the brain?
b) how amyloid peptides damage neurons? and
c) which therapeutic options have been designed on the basis of amyloid hypothesis? How successful are these amyloid pathology-targeted therapies in clinical trials? Besides amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s disease brain, cerebral vascular system is damaged. Whether cerebral vascular impairment contributes to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis will be discussed.
2) Stroke is characterized by sudden loss of neurological functions. It is a major reason to cause disability in elderly adults. Acute therapy after onset of stroke is very important. Time is the brain. In the seminar, we will introduce what is ischemic penumbra. It is the biological basis of stroke therapy. Based on this hypothesis, how can treatments be improved?
3) Multiple sclerosis is a major reason of disability in young adults. It is a typical autoimmune disease. In the seminar, we will introduce how autoimmune reaction is started, and discuss how immune modulating drugs, and T or B lymphocytes-targeted drugs serve their effects in multiple sclerosis patients.
The Seminar is scheduled after “Hauptvorlesung” and before “Schriftliche Prüfung”, therefore, it helps students to prepare their examination. |
