1. VAMPIRE DNA:
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
A CURE FOR
Sarah Jane Calub
Krystalyna Montano
http://www.freewebs.com/rbannerm/AD_2003.jpg

2. WHAT IS
ALZHEIMER’S
DISEASE?
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

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

4. Short-Term
Memory
• 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

5. 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.
http://www.reedpsp.com/images/US_Map.gif

6. People living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia in the US
120
90
60
30
Today 0
2030
2050

7. Goal
Harness unique Vampire
“gene” that may repair STM
damage in AD patients.
and
Find a cure for Alzheimer’s
to prevent these numbers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40291191@N07/3909668406/sizes/o/
from increasing rapidly in the
near future.

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

9. Pre-Experiment
Studies
• 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
ACh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ACh-stick.png

10. Methods
1. 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.

11. Sample STM Test

12. HOUSE

13. Was the word in lower case letters?

14. ball

15. Does the word rhyme with “mall”?

16. feet

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

18. Results
AD Patients Non-AD Patients Vampires
20
15
10
5
0
0 Weeks 2 Weeks 4 Weeks

19. Results
2 Weeks After Injection
30 people had 60% more ACh
30 people had 45% more ACh
40 people had 35% more ACh
4 Weeks After Injection
50 people had 95% more ACh
40 people had 92.5% more ACh
10 people had 90% more ACh

20. Conclusion
The 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.

21. 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