neuro brain disorders

Question 1

alzheimers disease

Answer 1

Neuropathology: Amyloid plaques and tau tangles with early atrophy in the hippocampus

Major Clinical Feature: Memory deficits early, may progress to additional cognitive deficits in executive functioning, visuospatial impairment, and apraxia. Gross motor and sensory functions are preserved.

Emotional Changes: Depression and apathy. 30-40% experience psychotic symptoms mid-to-late stage

Question 2

lewy body dementia

Answer 2

Neuropathology: Synucleinopathy with lewy bodies in neurons, atrophy of the limbic and paralimbic cortices

Major Clinical Feature: Cognitive, psychiatric, neurological, sleep, and autonomic symptoms. Major impairments in executive and visuospatual functions (including attention), minimal memory deficits, symptoms fluctuate prominentaly. Core feature is the presence of parkinsonisms : rigidity in movement, mask-like facial expression, slowness in movement, shuffling gait and stooped posture.

Emotional Changes: Anxiety and depression with persistent visual halluncinations.

Question 3

parkinsons disease

Answer 3

Neuropathology: Synucleinopathy with lewy bodies in neurons, atrophy of the limbic and paralimbic cortices

Major Clinical Feature: Cognitive, psychiatric, neurological, sleep, and autonomic symptoms. Major impairments in executive and visuospatual functions (including attention), minimal memory deficits, symptoms fluctuate prominentaly, tremor at rest. Core feature is the presence of parkinsonisms : rigidity in movement, mask-like facial expression, slowness in movement, shuffling gait and stooped posture.

Emotional Changes: Anxiety and depression with persistent visual halluncinations.

Question 4

frontotemporal dementia

Answer 4

Neuropathology: Pick’s bodies made of tau and TDP-43 aggregation.

Major Clinical Feature: Several forms. Atrophy in the frontal and temporal lobes with onset typically 45-65 years of age. Disruptions of emotional behavior, executive dysfunction, lack of insight, compulsive, ritualistic, repetitive behaviors, problems with planning, changes in eating behaviors (may engage in binge eating-like behaviors)

Emotional Changes: Behavioral and personality changes, apathy, anxiety, irritablity, disinhibition.