Ger 3 Alzheimer's Flashcards
What is the main RF for ALzheimer’s Disease?
AGE
How many new cases per 100,000 people after age 65?
1275
What does the incidence of disease do every 5 years after age 65?
DOUBLES
After age 85, what % of the population receives this diagnosis?
33%
What things are associated with aging, thus leading to AD?
- Oxidative stress
- Impaired folding function of the ER
- Impaired proteosome
What is the prognosis for most with Alzheimer’s disease?
For most, it is death within 3-9 years, depending on the severity and progression of the disease
What is the most common pathological finding of AD?
Most common finding is aggregated beta-amyloid deposits leading to plaques and dystrophic neurites in neocortical terminal fields…often thought that the imbalance between AB production and clearance leads to accumulation
What are truncated proteins due to?
Proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein by…
- Beta-site precursor protein-cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1)
- Beta-secretase
- Gamma secretase (contains presenilin-1…catalytic core)
* These 3 are in order
What are beta-amyloid deposits?
Natural products of metabolism and are between 36-43 AA in length
What do beta-amyloid proteins normally do at the synapse?
Dampen over-excited neurons
Which beta-amylod protein is more aggregation prone and damaging (toxic to cells)?
Beta-amyloid 42
Which beta-amyloid protein is more prevalent?
Beta-amyloid 40
With regards to beta-amyloid, what is thought to lead to disease state(AD)?
Over-production and lack of clearance is what is thought to lead to the disease state …oxidative stress, impaired folding function of the ER and impaired proteasome functioning are all associated with aging, thus leading to AD
What are 2 pathological forms that beta-amyloid can aggregate into?
- Fibrils –> Beta- pleated sheets –> Insoluble plaques
2. Monomers/oligomers –> Intermediate assemblies
Which pathological form of beta-amyloid is most toxic to synapses?
Monomers/Oligomers –> Intermediate assemblies
-The severity of cognitive effects is dependent on the concentration of soluble oligomers, no the overall beta-amyloid load
What 2 enzymes normally degrade beta-amyloid monomers and oligomers?
- Neopresilyn
- Insulin degrading enzyme
* Deficiencies in these enzymes may lead to accumulation of beta-amylod proteins
What is another pathological finding seen in AD?
Neurofibrillary tangles
Where are neurofibrillary tangles seen in AD?
Neo-temporal lobe structures (pyramidal neurons)
What are neutofibrillary tangles made of?
Hyper-phosphorylated Tau proteins
What is tau a normal constituent of?
Microtubules
Are neurofibrillary tangles specific for AD?
No… but they are a predictor in the severity of the disease
What does hyperphosphorylated Tau do in cells?
It is insoluble and will aggregate into paired helical structures and no longer associate with microtubules
In AD, are there mutations to Tau protein?
No, just aggregation into intermediate groups (In Parkinson Disease, there are mutations)
Are the intermediate aggregations of Tau cytotoxic?
Yes… (like beta-amyloid)
What tests might be good indicators for those with mild cognitive impairment?
T181 and T231
Which happens first…beta-amylod aggregation or Tau?
Beta-amyloid aauggregation precedes Tau
Does beta-amyloid induced degeneration of neurons require Tau?
YES
What is AD primarily a disease of?
Synaptic failure…hippocampal synapses begin to decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment
What are the 2 effects of beta-amyloid oligomers on the synapse?
- Decreases long term potentiation and dendritic spines while simultaneously increasing long term depression
- Pre-synaptic transmission is decreased as is post-synaptic glutamate receptor ion currents