Lecture 37. Understanding Brain Function Through Pathology/Disease Flashcards
What are neurodegenerative disorders ?
Diseases of brain degeneration
What are some examples of neurodegenerative disorders ?
- Alzheimers disease
- Parkinsons disease
- Huntingtons disease
- M.S
- ALS
What are psychiatric disorders ?
Disease of brain physiology
What are some examples of psychiatric disorders ?
- Schizophrenia
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- PTSD
- Addiction
What are neurodevelopmental disorders ?
Diseases of brain development
What are some examples of neurodevelopmental disorders ?
- Autism
- Intellectual disorders
- Lisencephaly
- Microcephaly
What are some causes of brain disorders ?
- Genetics
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Trauma
- Stress
- Pharmacological causes
When do neurodegenerative disorders usually occur ?
Later in life
When do psychiatric disorders usually occur ?
Mainly after adolescence
When do neurodevelopmental disorders usually occur ?
Early life
How are brain disorders studied in humans ?
- Clinical profile
- Brain imaging
- Behavioral assessment
- Histology
- Cell culture
- Drug studies
- Controlled interventions
How are brain disorders studied in animals ?
- Genetic manipulation
- Detailed behavioral experimentation
- Physiology
- Drug studies
- Optogenetics
- Calcium imaging
What are some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease ?
: loss of recent memory, forgetfulness (mild cognitive impairment,
MCI), transient periods of confusion, restlessness, word finding difficulty, spatial
disorientation, progressive deterioration of memory and other cognitive functions,
dementia. From MCI to marked dementia may take several year
What is the pathology of alzheimer’s disease ?
- Severely atrophied cerebral hemispheres and dilated ventricles
- Loss of neurons in selected brain regions
- Neurofibrillary tangles
- Amyloid plaques
What is alzheimer’s disease defined by ?
Brain deposition of numerous amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
What do amyloid plaques consist of ?
Aggregates of proteolytic fragments of the natural amyloid precursor protein
What are some genetic forms of alzheimers disease ?
- Heredity transmission
2. Mutations in APP protein
What does mutant APP show ?
Inappropriate cleavage (more in A-beta than P3)
What is found in higher amounts in alzheimer’s disease ?
Extra A-beta and PS1
What is coordinated movement ?
Body movements that result in intended actions
What are the two aspects of coordinated movement ?
- Kinematic aspect - direction of motion
2. Kinetic aspect - force of motion
What is akinesia ?
Loss of ability to move your muscles voluntarily
What is bradykinesia ?
Slow movement and an impaired ability to move the body swiftly on command
What can parkinson’s disease caused by ?
Atrophy of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra
What pathology underlied parkinsons disease ?
Alpha synuclein
What does alpha synuclein form ?
Lewy body like inclusions
How can parkinsons disease be treated ?
- L-dopa
- Deep brain stimulation
- Stem cell therapies
- Optogenetics
What are some symptoms of schizophrenia ?
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disordered speech
- Flattened effect
- Reduced speech
- Lack of initiative
What is schizophrenia associated with ?
Abnormal metabolism of dopamine and serotonin
What tends to cause intellectual disabilities ?
Deficits in Rho GTPase signaling cascades
What is Rho GTPase signaling cascades necessary for ?
Dendritic spine formation and normal behavior
