17.7 Dementia & Degen Disorders Flashcards
What is the protein that carries an INcreased risk of developing AD? Why?
-Epsilon-4-ApoE-Increases APP conversion to the beta form
What causes the suppressed expression of genes with Huntington’s disease?
Deacetylation of histones
What is the pathophysiology of normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Unknown etiology of inability to resorb CSF in the arachnoid granulations
What is the normal configuration of prion protein? Abnormal?
-Normal = Alpha (PrP^c)-Abnormal = beta sheet (PrP^sc)
What acute treatment can be performed for normal pressure hydrocephalus?
LP
What are the characteristics of the EEG with CJD?
Spike wave complexes
What are Lewy bodies composed of?
Alpha-synuclein
What are the major clinical features of PD? (4)
-Tremor-Rigidity-Akinesia/bradykinesia -Postural instability and shuffling gait
Cogwheel rigidity = ?
PD
What is the major pathophysiology of Huntington’s disease?
Degeneration of the GABAergic neurons in the caudate nucleus of the BG
True or false: most cases of Alzheimer’s are inherited
False–sporadic
What are characteristic of the hallucinations of lewy body dementia?
Vivid and benign
Is huntington’s disease AD or AR? What is the genetic defect, and what protein is affected?
AD repeat of CAG in the huntingtin gene
Why is it that patients with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s?
Chromosome 21 is where APP is—thus they express more of it
What are the most important risk factors for the development of early AD? (2)
-Presenilin 1 or 2 gene-Down Syndrome
What is the natural h/o CJD?
Usually results in death in less than 1 year
What is the protein that carries a DEcreased risk of developing AD?
-Epsilon-2-ApoE
What are the two major gray matter areas in the brain?
-Cerebral hemispheres-BG
Are there focal neurological deficits with Alzheimer’s?
No
What are the genes that increase the risk for later Alzheimer’s disease?
Epsilon-ApoE4
What is the protein that accumulates in Pick’s disease?
-Spherical tau protein aggregates-TDP43
Degeneration of the brainstem and BG leads to what?
Movement disorders
What is the treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus?
VP shunt
What is the key gross finding of Huntington’s disease?
Loss of the caudate nucleus and resulting hydrocephalus ex vacuo
What are the characteristics of Lewy body dementia?
-Dementia-Hallucinations-Parkinsonian features
Mask like facies = ?
PD
What is the usual presentation of CJD? (3)
-Rapidly progressive dementia -ataxia-startle myoclonus