biological basis of stroke, ageing and alzheimers

Question 1

what are neurodegenerative disorders?

Answer 1

“progressive damage or death of neurones leading to a gradual deterioration of bodily functions controlled by the affected part of the nervous system”

Question 2

what happens to the aging brain?

Answer 2

• likely to be subtle
• differences most evident in visual perception and constructional tests
• mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
• aging brain is associated with shrinkage of brain tissue - especially hippocampus and frontal lobe; decrease in number of synapse

Question 3

what is Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 3

” a degenerative brain disorder of unknown origin that causes progressive memory loss, motor deficits and eventual death”

Question 4

symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 4

• memory impairment
• loss of function
• personality changes

Question 5

treatment for alzheimer’s

Answer 5

• acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
• glutamate receptor antagonists

Question 6

what is a stroke?

Answer 6

the interruption of the blood supply - neuronal damage and death through starvation

Question 7

what are the 2 types of stroke?

Answer 7

• ischaemic
• haemorrhagic

Question 8

what is an ischaemic stroke?

Answer 8

most common type of stroke
they happen when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain

Question 9

what is a hemorrhagic stroke?

Answer 9

due to bleeding into the brain by the rupture of a blood vessel