ALZ Flashcards
what are the gross pathologic changes associated with ALZ?
cortical atrophy (widened sulci and narrow gyri) hydrocephalus ex vacuo (dialtion of the ventricles due to destruction of the brain parenchyma)
what are the histological pathologic changes associated with ALZ?
neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques
what are neurofibrillary tangles?
they are cytoplasmic inclusions of hyperphosphorylated tau protein inside of neurons
what are senile plaques?
tangled arrays of dystrophic neurites AND extracellular deposits of beta-amyloid (AB)
what is amyloid angiopathy?
accumulations of the AB in the blood vessels around the parenchyma
what is the pathogenesis of synaptic dysfunction in ALZ?
AB is neurotoxic -> destruction of neurons
hyper-P tau interferes with axon transport and signaling
what are the special, specific brain locations of damage for the following types of neurons: cholinergic somatostatinergic dopaminergic noradrenergic serotoninergic
basal forebrain intrinsic cortices substantia nigra locus coeruleus brain stem raphe
in what part of the brain are the neurofibrillary tangles most abundant?
hippocampus (medial temporal lobe) and neocortex
areas responsible for language, memory, executive function, visuospatial skills, and more
what is the staging of neurofibrillary tangles based on?
their location, progression from the enterohinal cortex to the other limbic structures to the neocortex is most common (Braak and Braak)
again, what are the genetic factors for ALZ?
APPP
Presenillin 1 & 2
autosomal dominant inheritance
what is a genetic factor which may predispose you to having ALZ but is not a determinant?
APOE, specifically E4 version
what other risk factors exist for the development of ALZ?
metabolic syndrome, maybe aluminum, living in the country (maybe pesticides/herbicides)
