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Neuroscience Midterm 2 > Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia > Flashcards

Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Flashcards

1
Q

What is Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?

A

It is a chronic degenerative brain disorder related to aging.

Minor forgetfulness -> Major memory disruptions -> Generalized dementia -> Widespread psychological dysfunction -> Death.

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2
Q

Alzheimer’s causes how much of all Dementia?

A

60-70%.

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3
Q

When can you get a true diagnosis of AD?

A

Post-mortem.

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4
Q

How many Canadians are affected by AD?

A

Over 500,000 (and an additional 25,000 cases diagnosed every year).

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5
Q

How many Canadians are expected to be affected by Alzheimer’s Disease in 2031?

A

937,000 Canadians (this is a 66% increase).

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6
Q

What are the early clinical symptoms of AD?

A

Short-term memory loss.
Subtle problems with executive function.
Apathy.

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7
Q

What are the late clinical symptoms of AD?

A

Difficulty with language.
Disoriented.
Mood swings.

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8
Q

What are the advanced clinical symptoms of AD?

A

Loss of motivation.
Loss of bodily functions.
Dependent on caregivers.

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9
Q

What causes AD?

A 
Genetics (70%) 
Exposure to environmental elements 
Immune reactions 
Slow viruses 
Prions (abnormal, infectious forms of proteins)
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10
Q

What are the two principle neuronal changes that occur in AD patients?

A

Loss of cholinergic cells in the basal forebrain.

Development of neurotic plaques and tangles in the cerebral cortex.

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11
Q

Is there a cure for AD?

A

No.

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12
Q

What is ACh?

A

Acetylcholine is among the first neurotransmitters ever discovered.

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13
Q

Where is the ACh located?

A

It is widely distributed throughout the brain.

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14
Q

ACh plays a crucial role in what branches of the Autonomic Nervous System?

A

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic.

Note that it also plays a crucial role in the CNS

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15
Q

ACh is responsible for what? Due to its release where?

A

It is responsible for muscle contractions, as it is released at Neuromuscular Junctions.

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16
Q

Where are Cholinergic cell bodies located?

A

Basal Forebrain - they project to the hippocampus and cortex.

Midbrain - projects to the Basal Ganglia, Thalamus, Diencephalon, Pons, Cerebellum, Cranial Nerve Nuclei, and Reticular Formation.

17
Q

ACh neurons in the Basal Forebrain are involved in what?

A

Cognitive function, particularly learning and memory.

18
Q

How do drugs enhance memory?

A

They increase activity of the ACh.

19
Q

Cells in what anatomical brain region are the first to die in AD?

A

Basal Forebrain - specifically in he Entorhinal Cortex.

20
Q

How does Neurodegeneration spread?

A

It spreads outwards and extends into the cerebral cortex, as disease progresses.

21
Q

What are the main pathological features of AD?

A

Plaques and Neurofibrillary Tangles.

22
Q

What do Plaques and Neurofibrillary Tangles do?

A

They interfere with normal processing of action potentials and cellular functions.

Decrease in inter-neuronal associations - and as they become more and more “choked off” from their circuits, they begin to die.

23
Q

What are Neuritic Plaques composed of?

A

A central core of homogenous proteins called B-Amyloid.

24
Q

What is B-Amyloid?

A

It is a product of the Amyloid Precursor Gene.

It is involved in the activation of kinases, protection against oxidative stress, regulation of cholesterol transport, etc.

25
Q

Where are the plaques located?

A

They are concentrated in the Temporal Lobe areas involved in memory.

26
Q

What are Neurofibrillary Tangles?

A

They are paired helical filaments found in the Cerebral Cortex and Hippocampus.

27
Q

What is Cytoskeleton?

A

It is the evolutionary solution to maintaining a neuron’s 3D structure.

It functions as both flexible scaffold and transportation system.

28
Q

What are neurons?

A

3-Dimensional creatures that require structural support.

29
Q

What are the three main components to the Cytoskeleton?

A

Neurofilaments
Microtubules
Microfilaments

30
Q

What are Neurofilaments?

A

Control and transport the membrane proteins.

31
Q

What are Microtubules?

A

Control the transfer/movement of substances and organelles throughout the cytoplasm.

32
Q

What are Microfilaments?

A

Provide structural support to axons and dendrites.

33
Q

What are TAU proteins?

A

They are involved in the stabilization and flexibility of microtubules and microfilaments.

They are a highly soluble protein.
Activated through phosphorylation.
Promote the assembly of microtubules.

34
Q

When Hyperphosphorylated TAU proteins aggregate, what do they form?

A

Neurofibrillary Tangles.

Neuroscience Midterm 2 (6 decks)

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