Lecture 8 - Neurodegeneration & Dementia

Question 1

Define neurodegeneration

Answer 1

Progressive atrophy, loss of function and death of neurons such as is seen in neurogenerative diseases

Question 2

State the 2 most common neurodegenerative diseases?

Answer 2

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Question 3

a.) State some common neurodegerative diseases (NDD)?
B.) Are these curable?
c.) What links these?

Answer 3

a. ) Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amphytrophic lateral sclerosi, fatal familial insomnia, huntington’s
b. ) All incurable
c. ) All show similarities on sub-cellular level (offering hope for therapeutic advancements)

Question 4

State some similarities seen between common NDD?

Answer 4

• atypical protein assemblies

- induced cell death

Question 5

t/f: neurodegeration is seen only on sub-cellular levels of neuronal circuitry (not systemic)

Answer 5

false - Neurodegeneration can be found in many different levels of neuronal
circuitry ranging from molecular to systemic

Question 6

Why have NDD become more apparent in the last ~200 years?

Answer 6

Increased lifespan of humans leading to increased prevalence of non-communicable disease, ie. NDD

Question 7

t/f: dementia is the most common NDD

Answer 7

false - dementia is not one specific disease!

Question 8

Define dementia?

Answer 8

Collection of symptoms caused by disorders of the brain - an umbrella term, NOT a specific disease

Question 9

Dementia may affect which of the following:

a. ) Thinking
b. ) Behavior
c. ) Ability to perform everyday tasks
d. ) All of the above

Answer 9

d

Question 10

t/f: dementia is a normal part of ageing; all people will develop dementia at a certain age

Answer 10

false - not all older people get dementia; it isn’t a normal part of ageing

Question 11

Explain the relationship between dementia and age?

Answer 11

Dementia increases with age, those over 60 are at greatest risk whereas those 40-50 may develop it, and those younger may still develop it although it’s very rare

Question 12

Explain signs and symptoms of dementia?

Answer 12

• Progressive, frequent memory loss
• Confusion
• Personality change
• Apathy, withdrawal
• Loss of ability to perform daily tasks (later stage)

Question 13

List types of dementia in order of prevalence?

Answer 13

1. AD
2. Vascular dementia
3. Lewy body disease
4. Frontotemporal dementia
5. Alcohol related dementia
6. Huntington’s
7. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
8. HIV associated dementia

Question 14

In 2020, ~how many aussies with dementia?

Answer 14

460 000

Question 15

Expected dementia prevalence (without cure) in Australia, in…

a. ) 2028
b. ) 2058

(note: all statistics questions are AUSTRALIAN)

Answer 15

a. ) 600 000

b. ) 1 000 000

Question 16

In 2020, ~how many aussies diagnosed with dementia daily?

Answer 16

250

Question 17

Expected dementia daily incidence (without cure) in Australia, in…

a. ) 2028
b. ) 2058

Answer 17

a. ) 320

b. ) 650

Question 18

_/10 people over 85 have dementia

Answer 18

3

Question 19

_/10 people over 65 have dementia

Answer 19

1

Question 20

How many individuals with younger onset dementia in…

a. ) 2020
b. ) 2028
c. ) 2058

Answer 20

a. ) 28 000
b. ) 29 000
c. ) 41 000

Question 21

~how many Aussies died of dementia in 2016:

a. ) per day
b. ) in the year
c. ) how many female

Answer 21

a. ) 36
b. ) 13 000
c. ) 8500

Question 22

~how many Aussies involved with care of someone with dementia (2020)?

Answer 22

1.6 million

Question 23

a. ) How much dementia cost Australia in 2018?
b. ) 2025 predicted?
c. ) 2058 predicted?

Answer 23

a. ) More then $15 billion
b. ) 18.7 bil
c. ) 36.8 bil

Question 24

t/f: Dementia is the single greatest cause of disability in older Australians (aged 65 years or older)

Answer 24

true

Question 25

t/f: Dementia is the single greatest cause of disability burden overall

Answer 25

false - third

Question 26

People with dementia account for __% of old care?

Answer 26

52%

Question 27

t/f: there is a difference between memory loss as occurs with ageing (normal), and with dementia

Answer 27

true

Question 28

Define mild cognitive impairment? Is this a new or old term?

Answer 28

Memory loss which is greater then that associated with normal ageing, but other signs of dementia are not present.

MCI is a new term

Question 29

Define AD?

Answer 29

A neurodegenerative disorder associated with extracellular accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) in plaques, and intracellular aggregation of Tau microtubule protein. AD can be asymptomatic for years, but eventually leads to cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric abnormality

Question 30

AD prevalence in those >65 years?

Answer 30

10-30% prevalence

Question 31

Most common type of AD? Accounts for what % of AD?

Answer 31

Sporadic, >95%

Question 32

What characterizes sporadic AD?

Answer 32

a. ) late onset (80-90 years)

b. ) failure to clear AB peptide

Question 33

t/f: AD can remain asymptomatic for years

Answer 33

true

Question 34

t/f: sporadic AD involves a no genetic risk factors

Answer 34

false - involves a lot

Question 35

Which of the genetic risk factors of sporadic AD shows the strongest association with disease development?

Answer 35

polymorphisms in APOE (apoliopoprotein E)

Question 36

Explain how younger individuals (~45) may develop AD, in terms of genetic mutation?

Answer 36

Mutation in genes affecting AB processing, such as PS1, PS2, APP

Question 37

Draw graph showing AD preclinical and symptomatic AD, including lines for:

• Synapse and neuron density and function
• AB depoisition
• Microglia and astrocyte activation
• Tau pathology

Answer 37

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