Neurobiology of Cognition Flashcards
What is the mind, and is it different from the brain?
The mind is in charge of cognitive faculties
What is metacognition?
Thinking about your own thinking
What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?
The comprehension of language/speech
What does a problem with Wernicke’s area result in?
Receptive aphasia – person won’t understand what’s being asked
What is Broca’s area responsible for?
The production of speech
What does a problem with Broca’s area result in?
Expressive aphasia – person will understand what’s being said, but has difficulty finding the correct words to answer with
How many items can you keep in short term memory?
7 +/- 2
What is semantic memory?
Long term memory of facts and info
Implicit/Procedural is acquired or used unconsciously
TRUE
What is dementia?
A progressive irreversible global cognitive decline (NOT just associated with memory loss)
How many components of cognition must be affected for someone to be diagnosed with dementia?
At least 2
Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia
TRUE
What is the average year survival of someone with dementia post diagnosis?
7 years
Aside from memory, what else does Alzheimer’s affect?
Orientation to task
Ability to make sense of what they see,
Control of motor function
What type of memory is particularly affected in Alzheimer’s?
Short term
Carrying out well rehearsed tasks is not usually affected in Alzheimer’s
TRUE
Outline the 2 main neuronal changes seen in Alzheimer.
- Amyloid plaques
* Neurofibrillary tangles
What can often be difficult in people with Alzheimers?
Learning and remembering new things
What other things do people with Alzheimers have?
Dysphasia
Dyspraxia
Aphasia
Mood problems (incl. psychosis)
Describe the extracellular amyloid plaques that occur in people with Alzheimers.
These are insoluble misfolded proteins, and are associated with inflammation
How do neurofibrillary tangles form?
Hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in microtubules
Name 4 cholingeric projections in the brain.
- Striatal interneurons – motor control.
- Nucleus basalis of meyenert – attention/arousal.
- Medial septal nucleus – learning and memory.
- Brain stem nuclei.
What cholingeric receptor is affected first in Alzheimer’s?
Nucleus basalis of meyenert
What drugs are used in the tx of alzheimer’s and lewy body dementia?
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
What do acetylcholinesterase inhibitors do?
Boost cholinergic transmission, but don’t treat the underlying pathological process
Give examples of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
- Donepizil
- Galantamine
- Rivastigmine
What – in terms of mode of action does memantine do?
A low-affinity voltage-dependent non-competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors
What is memantine licensed for?
The treatment of all stages of Alzheimer’s disease
What may memantine preferentially inhibit?
Excessive NMDA receptor activation associated with excitotoxicity and spare normal function
What is memantine a weak antagonist for?
Other amine inhibitors
Where is a common site of damage in vascular dementia?
Peri-ventricular
What are the majority of cases of vascular dementia caused by?
Gradual stroke damage – small vessel disease – which has not been recognised
What are lewy bodies?
Clumps of alpha synuclein and ubiquitin
What does loss of dopamine producing neurones in the substantia nigra in this condition result in?
Parkinsons symptoms
What does loss of ACh result in?
Memory problems
Outline the key features of lewy body dementia.
- Confusion
- Parkinson’s sx
- REM sleep disorder
- Visual disturbance
- Autonomic instability, especially hypotension
What did frontotemporal dementia used to be known as?
Picks disease
When does frontotemporal dementia usually start?
55-65 years, so think ‘younger pt with dementia.’
What are the 5 main symptoms of frontotemporal dementia?
- Disinhibition
- Loss of memory (occurs later on)
- Behavioural changes
- Progressive non-fluent aphasia
- Somatic dementia
Wernicke’s encephalopathy is an _______ related dementia
ALCOHOL
What is Wernicke’s encephalopathy due to?
A thiamine deficiency
What is thiamine essential for?
Krebs cycle
What is the classic triad of Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
- Ophthalmoplegia
- Confusion
- Ataxia
Wernicke’s encephalopathy is due to __________ problems
CEREBELLAR
What other symptoms are associated with Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
Visual impairment Hearing impairment Reduced conscious level Hypothermia Lactic acidosis Circulatory changes
Remember to replace ________ in Wernicke’s encephalopathy
THIAMINE
