Alzheimers

Question 1

Pharmacological treatments for Alzheimers

Answer 1

donepezil
galantamine
rivastigmine
memantine

Question 2

Drug class of donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine

Answer 2

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Question 3

Drug class of memantine

Answer 3

NMDA receptor antagonist

Question 4

When are antipsychotics allowed to be used

Answer 4

• at risk of harming themselves or others
• patient is in severe distress

Question 5

When is donepezil relatively contraindicated

Answer 5

bradycardia

Question 6

Adverse effect of donepezil

Answer 6

Insomnia

Question 7

Risk factors for development of Alzheimers

Answer 7

• age
• FHx
• caucasian
• Downs syndrome

Question 8

5% of Alzheimers is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. What genes are affected

Answer 8

amyloid precursor protein (chromosome 21)
presenilin 1 (chromosome 14) presenilin 2 (chromosome 1)

Question 9

Describe the macroscopic changes seen on imaging of a patient with Alzheimers disease

Answer 9

• cerebral atrophy

particularly involving the cortex and hippocampus

Question 10

Describe the microscopic changes seen on imaging of a patient with Alzheimers disease

Answer 10

• cortical plaques due to deposition of type A-Beta-amyloid protein
• intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles caused by abnormal aggregation of the tau protein