Alzheimer's Disease Flashcards
What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?
(one is a symptom/effect of the other)
Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease
Dementia refers to deficits in a group of cognitive symptoms such as memory, language, motor deficits.
Dementia is a symptom of alzheimer’s
What are 4 risk factors of Alzheimer’s, and which is most important?
Age (older people more likely)
Sex (women more likely)
Hormones
Lifestyle choices/modifiable factors
Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease, meaning that symptoms _________ over time.
worsen
In early stages symptoms may go _________ as they are still quite ______
undiagnosed as still quite weak
When diagnosed, Alzheimer’s symptoms range across what 3 stages?
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Mild Alzheimer’s symptoms may be seen as forgetting _____ and _____ of things/people, difficulties in _______ tasks and completing _____ tasks, and misplacing _______.
forgetting names and words
difficulties in planning and organising
misplacing objects
Moderate Alzheimer’s symptoms may be seen as forgetting personal _______ and _________, becoming easily ______, confusion about ones _________, disruptions to _______ and issues with _________ control as well as changes to ________.
forgetting personal events and info
becoming easily angered
confused about location
disruptions to sleep
issues with bladder control
changes to personality
What are the 4 symptoms that arise in people with severe AD?
Complete loss of awareness regarding surroundings/time
communication difficulties
Physical difficulties (walking, swallowing)
Vulnerability to infections
What percentage of Alzheimer’s disease cases are not herditary?
A 99%
B 1%
C 9%
D 90%
A 99%
Alzheimer’s disease as a cause of brain dysfunction occurs due to the build up of what 2 things?
- beta amyloid protein causing beta amyloid plaques
- abnormal tau protein causing tau tangles
Early onset AD occurs in less than _% of cases, arises around ages __-__, and is causes by mutations in _________ _______.
less than 5%
arises around age 60-65
caused by mutation in dominant genes
Late onset AD occurs in the ________ of cases, arising after the age of __.
majority of cases
after age 65
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a glycoprotein which transports _______ and promotes _______ repair.
transports cholesterol and promotes cellular repair
Which allele of ApoE increases the risk of developing AD?
A E1 Allele
B E2 Allele
C E3 Allele
D E4 Allele
D E4 Allele
Normally the beta-amyloid protein is _________, but becomes ______ when the E4 allele attaches. This makes beta-amyloid less likely to be ______ ______ and available to form _______.
normally soluble
becomes insoluble
less likely to be broken down
forming plaques
What are 5 non-genetic risk factors of beta-amyloid build up?
head injury
infection
alcoholism and drug use
lifestyle choices
exposure to toxic chemicals
Brain atrophy refers to sever degeneration of the __________ and ________ cortex, as well as _________ enlargement.
degenedration of hippocampus and cerebral cortex
ventricular enlargement
Which statement is true of beta-amyloid plaques?
A They are not unique to AD, and can occur with age
B People with AD have a unnaturally large build of plaques
C People with AD have plaques in specific locations, such as the hippocampus
D All of the above
D all of the above
Beta amyloid is produced in both ______ form and _____ form
long form and short form
the short form of beta amyloid protein is _________ and _________ in blood, transporting ________. it is associated with normal, healthy _______.
short form = good
soluble
circulating in blood
transporting cholesterol
associated with normal function
The long form of beta amyloid protein is less ______ so more likely to ________. This can disrupt ________ connectivity and functions of _______, leading to their death.
long form = bad
insoluble
disrupts synaptic connectivity and neuronal function, leading to death of neurons
People with AD have an increased proportion of
A Long form beta amyloid protein
B Short form beta amyloid protein
C tau protein tangles
D Both A and C
D Both A and C
In healthy brains Tau protein ______ __ and stabilizes _________, allowing for ________ transport
healthy - Tau binds to and stabilizes microtubules
Allowing for nutrient transport
In AD brains. Tau protein ______ and binds to _______, leading to ‘tau _______’, this disrupts the _______ system
tau detaches and binds to other tau, leading to tau tangles, disrupting transport system
In AD brains there is a depletion of what 4 neurotransmitters?
ACH
Glutamate
Serotonin
noraderenaline
ChAT stands for _________ ________________
AchE stands for _____________________
choline acetyltransferase
Acetylcholinesterase
AchE is responsible for the _____________ of Ach?
A Breakdown
B Production
C transfer
D Transport
A breakdown
List 6 psychological treatment therapies for AD (NON-DRUG)
Memory aids (positit notes etc)
Cognitive behavioural therapy
music therapy
structured daily interactions
stimulated presence therapy
caregiving
What is the role of cholinergic drugs such as cholinesterase inhibitor?
reduce the breakdown of Ach, by inhibiting AchE
Cholinergic drugs are best for patients with
A mild symptoms
B moderate symptoms
C severe symptoms
D Both A nd B
D both A and B
Glutamate receptor antagonists such as _________are best used to slow down symptoms of _________ and ________ in patients with moderate to severe symptoms
memantine
slows symptoms of aggression and agitation
What are 3 issues with psycho-pharmacological treatments of AD ?
Cannot reverse symptoms only slow down
only short term treatment
doesn’t solve root of problem
Other than glutamate and Ach treatments, what are 3 other types of treatments used to treat AD?
reduce beta-amyloid production
reduce tau tangles
improve cardiovascular health
Biomarkers can be used to detect _______ such as AD. They can show changes such as CSF levels or build of up ___ ________ and ___ ______, and can be detected in ________ tests, _____ and PET scans
detects diseases like AD
show CSF changes and tau or beta amyloid build up
detectable in blood tests or MRI scan, and PET
