11 - Alzheimer's Flashcards
Alzheimer’s is a neurogenerative, describe that.
Affecting neurons and synaptic connections in the brain. One of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the aging population.
Alzheimer’s is the primary cause of _____
dementia
dementia is a symptom
What is dementia?
a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily activities
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by 3 hallmark brain changes, what are they?
1) Diffuse (widespread) neuritic plaques
2) Plaques display marked amyloid beta deposition
3) Neurofibillary tangles (NFTs) made up of phosphorylated tau (p-tau) protein
What is usually the first symptom to present?
memory impairment
*followed by others (to be discussed)
Alzheimer’s is a ____ disease
progressive
meaning it will inexorably get worse
Is there currently a treatment for the underlying disease?
Nope
Brain changes usually start in ______. Which accounts for early symptoms of memory loss; primary sensory and motor function is usually preserved until later in the disease when other areas in the brain are affected.
hippocampus
Alzheimer’s has a global concern in what 3 areas?
- Mortality
- Caregiver burden
- Cost
Alzheimer’s makes up about ____% of dementia cases. The aging population is one of the major contributors to the increased rate of diagnosis and predicted spike in cases by mid-century.
60-70
Risk Factors:
Age?
Risk doubles every 10 years after 65 yo
Risk Factors:
Genetic factors?
More likely associated with rare “early-onset” AD (onset < 65 years old can be as early as 30 yo)
Risk Factors:
List some other risk factors
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hypertension (long term affects blood vessels in brain)
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Physical inactivity
-obesity, DM, brain trauma, some medications (benzos, anticholinergics, PPis), reduced brain capacity (low education, reduced mental activity)
Compare normal aging to dementia
Normal aging:
- Details of an event that took place a year ago
- Acquaintance name/face
- Occasionally forget things
- Worried about your memory but relatives are not
Dementia:
- Details of recent events
- Family member name/face
- Frequently forget things
- Relatives are worried about memory but you are unaware
To stay healthy, what must neurons do?
Neurons must communicate with each other, carry out metabolism, and repair themselves.
*Alzheimer’s disease disrupts all three of these essential jobs
Describe a normal frontal lobe and one with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
Normal:
- plan and initiates activity
- judgement/behavior
AD:
- apathetic
- withdrawn
Describe a normal parietal lobe and one with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
Normal:
- puts activities in sequence
- spatial information
AD:
-using words incorrectly, getting lots easily, dressed
Describe a normal limbic system and one with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
Normal:
- emotions
- basic needs (sleep/eat)
AD:
-suspiciousness, irritability, mood/anxiety
Describe a normal hippocampus/temporal lobe and one with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
Normal:
-short-term memories are converted to long-term memories
AD:
-inability to retain memory of recent past, recognize objects
How are caregivers affected?
psychological and physical toll
Neuropathologic changes of AD are ______ and _______, meaning they get worse over time. Ultimately fatal.
chronic and progressive
What is neurodegeneration due to ??
accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs, “tau tangles”) and amyloid plaques
Pathological processes likely begin ______ before symptoms present (can we diagnose earlier?)
decades
What brain changes are included in Alzheimer’s?
- NFT & amyloid plaque accumulation
- decrease in functioning synapses
- reduction in certain neurotransmitters (acylchaline)
- cell death
- brain atrophy
- reduced metabolic and repair functioning
- vascular dysfunction (reduced oxygenation)
- breakdown of BBB
Does the severity of disease correlate with plaque burden ?
not generally
The brain in Alzheimer’s disease has ____ nerve cells and synapses than a healthy brain.
fewer
What are the 2 hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease ?
1) Neuritic plaques
2) Neurofibrillary tangles
What is the net result of AD pathophysiology?
decrease in multiple neurotransmitters
The _____ system appears most significantly affected
cholinergic
What are the plaques formed from?
Protein pieces (called beta-amyloid) that “stick” together.
What do the plaques do?
Block cell-to-cell signalling at synapse
What are tangles?
They are collapsed and twisted fibres of protein (called tau) that build up inside the nerve cell.
What does Tau normally do?
Helps stabilizes the cell transport system that allows nutrients, cell parts, and other essential materials to move through the cells.
*Without this system, the nerve cell eventually dies.
List 3 neurotransmitter changes in AD
1) Reduced activity of choline acetyltransferase
2) Selective loss of certain nicotinic receptors subtypes
3) Reduced number of cholinergic neurons
Theory behind amyloid plaques?
Lesions found in brain and cerebral vasculature; possibly due to imbalance between production/clearance of AB
Theory behind neurofibrillary tangles?
Composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein; causes eventual neuronal death; burden correlates to disease severity
Theory behind inflammatory mediators ?
Increased immune response (macrophage, cytokine release, etc.) may be in response to clear out AB, but may contribute to neuronal cell death
Theory behind loss of cholinergic activity ?
One of many neuronal pathways destroyed in AD; thought to be one of contributors to memory/cognition dysfunction but not the complete picture
Theory behind dysfunction of other NTs ?
In addition to acetylcholine, Its such as 5-HT, NE and Flu are depleted
Theory behind vascular dysfunction ?
Dysfunctional cerebral blood vessels may decrease nutrient delivery to brain and clearance of AB.
Usually onset of AD is very gradual and progresses _____
slowly
Who brings it up?
Usually family members, not the person themselves
List symptoms of AD
1) Memory dysfunction
2) Executive functioning problems
3) Behaviour/Psych
4) Other symptoms
Symptoms:
Describe memory dysfunction
- usually first symptom to present
- poor recall/losing items
- aphasia, agnosia
Symptoms:
Describe executive functioning problems
- includes dysfunction with problem-solving ability and judgement; impairment varies in early AD
- decreased organization, decreased motivation, decreased ability to multitask
- anosognosia (reduced self awareness; is less aware of deficits)
Symptoms:
Describe behavior/psych
- Often present mid to late disease
- Apathy, irritability, social disengagement
- Agitation, aggressioin, wandering
- Psychosis, hallucinations
What are some other symptoms?
- Apraxia, motor disturbances
- Sleep disturbances
- Seizures (late)
Alzheimer’s:
What are the top early signs?
- memory loss
- changes in mood
- misplacing belongings
- hard to complete familiar task
- confusion of time and place
- changes in vision
- struggling to communicate
- poor judgement
- social withdrawal