Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Clinical Neuro - MS,AD,HD,PD > AD - Pathogenesis > Flashcards

AD - Pathogenesis Flashcards

1
Q

Why does AD cause significant personality changes and emotional and cognitive decline

A

It attacks the limbic system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why does AD affect STM and LTM

A

because it attacks the hippocampus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why does AD lead to sensory loss and motor issues

A

It attacks the thalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Why does AD affect the body’s ability to regulate and appetite

A

It attacks the hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Is AD fatal

A

yes, brain shrinks and body loses the ability to regulate itself overtime - you have cortical degeneration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

AD is a

A

A condition of progressive dementia resulting in impaired memory, cognition, and behavior
AD is NOT accelerated aging
Dementia can occur in a variety of conditions
AD is the most common form in the elderly (50-70%)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is dementia

A

An impairment in cognitive function that is significant enough to interfere with the ability to conduct normal activities of daily living.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Who can develop AD

A

Any sort of damage to the brain can potentially lead to a greater risk of AD

You can also potentially develop AD in early 40s and 50s (early onset)

The Elderly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Is there a problem with amyloid precursor protein, and what happens with this and AD, and what does this protein do?

A

Naturally in the brain we have amyloid precursor protein. That is what the brain uses to repair the cell walls. When APP is use within the brain it breaks down into beta amyloid fragments.
Usually the body clears this out when we are sleeping. The theory is that these beta amyloids clump together and they develop beta amyloid plaques. Then they get stuck in the brain - this becomes non-functional areas in the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the tipping point with AD

A

They have too many beta amyloid plaques, this can not be cleared up and causes cortical degeneration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What two components cause AD

A

Beta amyloid plaques

Breaking down of tau with causes Neurofibrillary Tangles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are neurofibrillary tangles

A

Healthy neurons have an internal support structure made up of microtubules
Microtubules act like tracks, guiding nutrients & molecules from the body of the cell down to the ends of the axon and back.

Tau, a protein that makes microtubules stable, becomes tangled–> neurofibrillary tangles
Microtubules disintegrate, collapsing the neuron’s transport system –> malfunction in neural communication & eventual cell death

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Neurofibrillary Tangles lead to

A

Atrophy and cell death of brain tissue

ncreases in ventricular size

Deepening of cortical sulci & shrinking of gyri

Decreases in brain weight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is tau

A

It is the structure that helps maintain the structure of the microtubules within the cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the limbic system responsible for

A

Links brainstem with higher reasoning elements of cortex

Controls emotions & instinctive behavior, and sense of smell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the Hippocampus responsible for

A

Responsible for learning & memory

Converts STM into LTM for storage in other brain areas

17
Q

What is the Thalamus responsible for

A

Sensory relay center

Receives input from sensory & limbic systems & relays it to the cortex

18
Q

What is the Hypothalamus responsible for

A

Monitors body temp & appetite, and the body’s internal clock
(cortical degeneration - leads to AD being fatal)

19
Q

Ten Warning Signs of AD

A
  1. Recent memory loss affecting job skills
  2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
  3. Problems with speech & language
  4. Disorientation of time & place
  5. Poor or decreased judgment
  6. Problems with abstract thinking
  7. Misplacing things
  8. Changes in personality
  9. Mood & behavior changes
  10. Loss of initiative
20
Q

What are the types of dementia

A

acute dementia

chronic dementia

21
Q

Acute dementia is

A

sudden, possibly reversible

10% of all dementias are transient

can be from drug use, emotional disorder, metabolic, nutritional, infection or alcoholism

22
Q

Chronic dementia

A

Gradual, irreversible

Degenerative diseases (AD, PD, Huntington’s, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, etc)

Multi-infarct dementia / vascular dementia

Infections (AIDS, Neurosyphilis)

Head Trauma

Alcoholic dementia

23
Q

Risk Factors for AD

A 
Age
Genetics
Family History
Gender (♀>♂)
History of head injury/trauma
Exposure to heavy metals & toxins

*Level of education (a protective factor)

24
Q

Why is Level of education a protective factor

A

you have more synapses and the more synapses you have the longer it takes to degenerate

25
Q

Would doing crosswords help with AD

A

NO, works on recall so you are not building new synapses

26
Q

What things can people do to help their brain

A

Learn new things and exercise

27
Q

How does exercise help the brain

A

When you exercise the body releases brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
- this helps protect the brain

28
Q

CVA as a risk factor for AD

A

Converging studies reveal that risk factors for CVA & cardiovascular disease overlap with AD
High cholesterol & Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), HTN, DM
↑ levels of homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease, is associated w/ ↑ risk of AD
Suppression of cholesterol by statin drugs reduces formation of plaques & lowers risk of AD

29
Q

Smoking as a risk factor for AD

A

Smoking triples the risk of AD
-associated with later life development of AD

-# of β-amyloid neurotic plaques ↑ w/ ↑ amount of smoking

30
Q

Social situation as a risk factor for AD

A

Isolated adults have 2x risk of AD

Lack of social engagement & a lonely feeling -> faster rate of cognitive decline

less active –> less BDNF
–>less brain health

31
Q

Environment situation as a risk factor for AD

A

Environmental Risk Factors:
Exposure to second-hand smoke
Environmental pollutants

32
Q

Hormones as a risk factor for AD

A

Hormone Therapy in any form before age 65

Lowers the risk by half

33
Q

Genetics & AD are they related

A

Genetics play a role but do not know how much

Whether these genes actually cause AD or just represent a genetic susceptibility for AD is unknown

34
Q

Types of AD

A

Early Onset AD

*Late Onset AD - more common

35
Q

Early Onset AD

A 
~5-10% of all AD cases
Mostly familial or inherited
Onset occurs in 40-50s
Highly genetic in etiology
50% risk with amyloid precursor protein
Pre-senile 1 & 2 gene mutations
36
Q

Late Onset AD And risk factor

A 
Mostly sporadic type
Onset > age 65
Idiopathic etiology, probably multiple causation
Age is major risk factor
ApoE is a genetic risk factor
37
Q

With early onset do genes play a role

A

yes

38
Q

What is the 1st structure to show pathologic change

AD

A

Cerebral cortex

39
Q

AD and Ach

A

Widespread cortical depletion of ACh

Clinical Neuro - MS,AD,HD,PD (18 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions