Alzheimer's & Dementia

Question 1

What is Alzheimer’s disease (AD)?

Answer 1

A leading cause of dementia (75%), characterized by significant memory loss and cognitive impairment, often starting with attention deficits.

Question 2

What are familial forms of Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 2

Early-onset AD, sometimes as early as 35 years old, driven by genetic mutations in PSEN1, PSEN2, and APP genes.

Question 3

What is dementia?

Answer 3

An umbrella term for various cognitive impairments, predominantly occurring in later life (>70 years old).

Question 4

How does Alzheimer’s disease relate to dementia?

Answer 4

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia characterized by progressive mental deterioration due to generalized brain degeneration.

Question 5

What are common symptoms of dementia?

Answer 5

Memory loss
Problems with thinking speed, mental sharpness, language, understanding, and judgment
Mood changes
Movement difficulties
Struggles with daily activities

Question 6

What is the prevalence of dementia in the UK?

Answer 6

1 in 11 people over the age of 65 have dementia (NHS, 2023).

Question 7

What are specific symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 7

Confusion, disorientation, getting lost
Difficulty planning or making decisions
Speech and language issues
Problems with movement and self-care
Personality changes, hallucinations, low mood, or anxiety

Question 8

What are 12 modifiable risk factors linked to AD?

Answer 8

Factors include traumatic brain injury (TBI), hypertension, alcohol, obesity, depression, smoking, etc. (Serrano-Pozo and Growdon, 2019).

Question 9

What is the relationship between physical activity (PA) and dementia risk?

Answer 9

Reduced physical activity and sedentary behavior increase dementia risk (Framingham heart study, Yan et al., 2020).

Question 10

What was the MEDEX study?

Answer 10

A multi-domain intervention promoting the Mediterranean diet and PA among older adults, resulting in cognitive and memory improvements (Shannon et al., 2020).

Question 11

What does research suggest about exercise in early vs. established AD?

Answer 11

Early AD: Aerobic exercise training (AET) may improve memory and executive function but does not prevent brain atrophy (Tarumi et al., 2019).
Established AD: No cognitive benefits observed from exercise interventions (Saunders et al., 2020).

Question 12

What is the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)?

Answer 12

A diagnostic tool for cognitive function, scoring from 24-30 (no impairment) to 0-17 (severe impairment).

Question 13

What are limitations of the MMSE?

Answer 13

Bias against individuals with lower educational levels or visual impairments.

Question 14

What is the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)?

Answer 14

A measure that stratifies cognitive impairment from none (0) to severe (3) across memory, orientation, judgment, and personal care.

Question 15

What are biomarkers used in diagnosing AD?

Answer 15

Biomarkers measure amyloid-beta and tau protein levels through PET scans and spinal fluid analysis.

Question 16

What are the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 16

Amyloid-beta accumulation
Neurofibrillary tangles
Neurodegeneration and synapse loss

Question 17

What imaging techniques are used in AD diagnosis?

Answer 17

MRI: Detects shrinkage in frontal and temporal lobes
CT scan: Rules out tumors or strokes

Question 18

What is vascular dementia?

Answer 18

A type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often linked to strokes or vascular conditions.

Question 19

What is Lewy body dementia?

Answer 19

A form of dementia associated with abnormal deposits of alpha-synuclein protein in the brain, causing cognitive and motor symptoms.

Question 20

What does research highlight about exercise as a risk modifier for dementia?

Answer 20

Exercise is more impactful for cognitively healthy individuals than for those already affected by AD.