Ch 30 MCI And Ad Flashcards
Neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease
Synaptic and neuronal loss associated with
- progressive deposition of amyloid in the form of diffuse neuritic plaques
- Accumulation of tau in the form of neurofibrillary tangles in neuropil threads
Disease progression of AD
Cell atrophy loss and reduction in the production and function of neurotransmitters: -Choline Aceto-transferase -Serotonin -Norepinephrine
Neuropathological progression of Alzheimer’s follows what spread
Temporal to frontal and eventually involves multiple brain systems
What cortex are implicated in the early stage of Alzheimer’s?
Hippocampus and entorhinal cortex in the early stage
Frontal temporal and parietal association areas with disease progression
Temporal lobe and association areas where most atrophy occurs
What structures are relatively spared until the late stage in Alzheimer’s?
Primary motor, visual, auditory, somatosensory cortices are relatively unaffected until the end
Suspected non-Alzheimer pathophysiology SNAP
Biomarker evidence of neurodegeneration without prominent presence of amyloid
Primary age related Tauopthy (PART)
Cognitive impairment with Alzheimer’s like onset but slow clinical progression
What is the single largest risk factor for Alzheimer’s?
Agr, over 65
What chromosomes are identified for early onset familial Alzheimer’s?
Chromosomes 1, 14, 21
What other condition is associated with chromosome 21?
Down syndrome
Older individuals with down syndrome typically develop plaques consistent with Alzheimer’s
Prevalence of Alzheimer’s over age 65
10%
Average age at diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
75
Mostly 70-79
Percentage of individuals over 85 meeting criteria for Alzheimer’s
50%
Race and Alzheimer’s
Blacks, Latinos more than whites
Related to cardio vascular risks, medical conditions, access and education
Percentage of patients with Alzheimer’s who have a familial variant of the disease
5%
Early onset symptoms presenting between ages 40 to 60
