Alzheimer

Question 1

What are the risk factors for Alzheimer?

Answer 1

The most important risk factors are: Age, down syndrome (gene mutations in the down brain area), APP (amyloid precursor protein) duplication, PSEN1 & PSEN2 mutations, APOE e4 mutation, Positive family history.

Question 2

How is the diagnosis made in AD?

Answer 2

Based on the symptoms, family history, MRI

Question 3

What are the most common symptoms of AD?

Answer 3

• Memory impairment
• Change in behavior
• Change in mood
• Language problems
• Personality changes
• Anterograde amnestic syndrome
• Disease usually last for 8 to 10 years and leads to death.

Question 4

Is there treatment available for AD?

Answer 4

Yes, but no cure. Treatment of Alzhemer’s is based on NMDA antagonist and Cholinergic inhibitors.

NMDA antagonist modulate the NMDA receptor during excesive glutamate stimulation.

Question 5

Is AD hereditary?

Answer 5

• 25%-40% have AD in family and 5% of those have the rare early onset form
• 60% of ADs are sporadic and have multifactoral etiology

Question 6

Genetic of AD?

Answer 6

In early onset form there is gene defects in three different genes: PSEN1, PSEN2, APP

In late onset form there is gene mutations in e.g. CLU, CR1 and CDB3. APOE e4 is the strongest risk factor.

Question 7

What are the basic mechanism of AD?

Answer 7

• Neuronal loss and brain atrophy in frontal and temporal lobes
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Chemical imbalance
• Inflammatory response
• Neuropathological changes: accumulation of beta-amyloid (amyloid plaques), decreased ACh levels, extraneuronal neuric plaques, presence of intraneuronal neurofibrially tangles

Question 8

Is AD the most common disease that is causing dementia?

Answer 8

Yes.