The AOTA Critically Appraised Topics and Paper Series

The AOTA Critically Appraised Topics and Paper SeriesThe AOTA critical appraised topics and paper series are a collection of critical and informative articles on the topic of aetiology for Alzheimer's disease. In this paper series, three topics will be discussed each issue. Topics of the first installment include introduction to the critical appraisal and assessment of aetiology, and current and future perspectives. The second installment includes a discussion of Alzheimer's Disease in African Americans.The third installment, which is devoted to the concluding chapter of the AOTA Series, addresses the growing possibility that the neurodegenerative disease may also be linked to environmental factors, specifically those associated with dietary patterns. It is important to note that the AOTA does not discuss any possible relationship between such diet patterns and the development of Alzheimer's disease. Rather, the author discusses how environmental factors may interact with genetic fac tors and disease progression in order to influence the development of a variety of diseases.The AOTA critically appraised topics and paper series consider the nutritional patterns in a variety of populations and their relationship to a variety of diseases. The first article in the series, which discusses Alzheimer's Disease in African Americans, discusses the significance of diet and nutrition in developing such disease. It further notes that a variety of studies have indicated that the American diet and lifestyle are linked to several diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and osteoporosis. Such diseases can result from an impaired metabolism of cholesterol.The series also emphasizes the importance of a proper diet and lifestyle that include reduced intake of saturated fats, high protein intake, high in fiber and low in carbohydrates, and avoidance of the use of trans fats, and artificial sweeteners as it relates to preventing such diseases. It also notes that all indiv iduals, even those with the lowest levels of cholesterol, must be aware of their daily nutrition and how foods affect their body's blood flow, metabolism, and energy. Other studies in the series indicate that diets rich in carbohydrates may interfere with the process of brain tissue growth and slow down the rate of human brain growth. Hence, this can be one reason why diets high in proteins and saturated fats are linked to a variety of diseases. Also, it appears that alcohol consumption may accelerate the rates of brain cell death as well as that of blood vessel cells.The AOTA takes its name from Dr. William Gower Wilkins who formulated the unit that is considered part of the AOTA Critical Appraisal Topics and Paper Series. He based this upon the concept that disease process can be explained by describing a system of disease processes and their relationships to each other and thus indirectly to the biological environment.Dr. Wilkins believed that Alzheimer's disease was caused by ch anges in a biochemical system that operates by controlling the synaptic transmission between neurons. There are two systems, which have been implicated in such diseases. One is oxidative phosphorylation, which are affected by protein levels, and the other is mitochondrial dysfunction, which has been linked to protein levels.The AOTA critically appraised topics and paper series is currently composed of seven articles. Each of these articles has a total of ten supporting citations, which consist of references to previous studies and research pertaining to the topic of Alzheimer's disease.