Alzheimer's Disease

Question 1

Dementia is not a disease itself but rather a group of symptoms that may accompany certain diseases or conditions. T/F

Answer 1

True.

Question 2

T/F : Prevalence of dementia increases with age.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Largest cause of dementia is what?

Answer 3

Alzheimer’s Usual

Question 4

How likely are 80-90 year olds to get dementia?

Answer 4

40%

Question 5

Dementia involves the loss of neurons where in the brain?

Answer 5

Hippocampus, frontal/temporal cortex.

Question 6

What are senile plaques?

Answer 6

“tombstones”

Question 7

Where are neurofibrillary tangles located?

Answer 7

In the neurons

Question 8

Amyloid protein can sometimes damage cells?

Answer 8

Yes.

Question 9

In CT scans, what can you see in a dementia patient?

Answer 9

Increase in lateral ventricle size.

Question 10

In MRI’s, what can you seen in a dementia patient?

Answer 10

Volume decrease of the brain.

Question 11

What do PET scans measure?

Answer 11

Change in metabolic function.

Question 12

State the 4 places that can alter the cholinergic system and what does ti do?

Answer 12

1. presynaptic
2. synapse
3. post synaptic
4. breakdown

In alzheimer’s disease, cholinergic cells are preferentially lost. Want to reverse the deficit.

Question 13

What can happen at the presynaptic terminal in terms of the cholinergic cycle?

Answer 13

You can inc. amount of choline

Acetyl-CoA + choline = ACh

Question 14

At the synapse, what can happen to alter amount of choline?

Answer 14

You can decrease the stability of the vesicles for release.