Memory & Disease

Question 1

The gradual loss of brain function due to physical changes in brain structure is referred to as:

Answer 1

Dementia

Question 2

Memory loss, impaired reasoning, reduced language skills and reduced daily living skills are symptoms of which series of diseases?

Answer 2

Dementia

Question 3

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of which illness?

Answer 3

Dementia

Question 4

Cognitive symptoms may appear up to a year before an official diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is made. True or false?

Answer 4

True

Question 5

Phonemic & semantic verbal fluency (SVF) tests can be used to assess which type of dementia?

Answer 5

Alzheimer’s

Question 6

SVF tests are used to assess ____ fluency and ____ fluency potentially affected by Alzheimer’s:

Answer 6

Phonemic; semantic

Question 7

What is the primary risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 7

Age

Question 8

What are the 4 main risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 8

Age; family history; genetic disposition; familial/early onset Alzheimer’s disease

Question 9

What risk factor for Alzheimer’s is linked to the PSEN1, 2 & APP gene mutations?

Answer 9

Familial/early onset AD

Question 10

The APOE gene can be found on which chromosome?

Answer 10

Chromosome 19

Question 11

How many variations of the APOE gene are there?

Answer 11

3

Question 12

What is the current prevalence of AD in New Zealand?

Answer 12

20%

Question 13

The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s remains the same for each year after 65. True or false?

Answer 13

False - it doubles every 5 years

Question 14

What neurotransmitter is broken down by the cholinesterase enzyme?

Answer 14

Acetylcholine

Question 15

A deficiency in which type of neurotransmitter may responsible for producing Alzheimer’s?

Answer 15

Acetylcholine

Question 16

Donepezil, rivastigmine and reminyl are types of _____ inhibitors that can be administered to AD sufferers in order to give acetylcholine time to transmit messages:

Answer 16

Cholinesterase

Question 17

Which protein is ‘cleaved’ thus producing beta-amyloid plaques?

Answer 17

Amyloid precursor proteins (APP)

Question 18

Which 2 types of secretases are involved in the production of beta-amyloid?

Answer 18

Beta-secretase; gamma-secretase

Question 19

Amyloid plaque location correlates precisely with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. True or false?

Answer 19

False

Question 20

___ proteins bind to ____, which support neural structure:

Answer 20

Tau; microtubules

Question 21

The tangling of degenerated tau proteins is thought to cause which symptom of Alzheimer’s?

Answer 21

Memory loss

Question 22

_____ regulate the formation of tight junctions, which keeps the blood brain barrier (BBB) intact:

Answer 22

Pericytes

Question 23

Which gene variant is associated with the disruption of tight junctions?

Answer 23

APOE4

Question 24

The presence of which variant of APOE is believed to cause a higher risk in cognitive decline?

Answer 24

4

Question 25

Better early and ongoing education is said to decrease the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease. True or false?

Answer 25

True