Alzheimers Disease Flashcards
1
Q
What is Alzheimer’s Disease
A
Degenerative cerebral disease with a characteristic neuropathological and neurochemical features
Progressive deterioration in cognition, function and behavioir
It is the most common form of dementia
2
Q
What symptoms can you confuse Alzheimers disease with
A
Vitamin Deficiency Thyroid Problems Infection Anxiety Brain tumour Depression
3
Q
What are the genes for Alzheimer’s disease
A
PSEN1, PSEN2, APP
APOE4: 2 copies = 8 times more likely
TREM2- 3x more likely to have Alzheimers
4
Q
What are the classic features of Alzheimers disease (pathophysiological indicators)
A
- Neuritic plaques: spherical structures consisting of fibrous protein called amyloid surrounded by degenerating nerve endings (neuritis)
- Amyloid proteins: derived from a large amyloid precursor called APP- results in toxic fragments that form insoluble clumps in brain to trigger neuronal dysfunction and death
- Neurofibrillary tangles: found in neurones composed of paired helical microtubule associated Tau protein cause disruption of cell architecture leading to cell death
5
Q
What is associated with problems in cognition
A
Loss of cholinergic neurones
6
Q
What is associated with problems degeneration of motor control
A
Loss of dopaminergic neurones in the substantia nigra
