Neurodegeneration 1 Flashcards
What is neurodegeneration?
The destruction of neurons in any disease, i.e. it has to be beyond that or normal aging
Where is neurodegeneration found?
Neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, trauma, viral diseases, vascular/circulatory disorders
Main causes of stroke?
Atherosclerosis, thrombosis, embolism, vasospasm, hyper vasculopathy
What is atherosclerosis?
Narrowing of blood vessels
What is an embolism?
Damage to heart valves
What can cause vasospasm?
Subarachnoid hemorhage?
Ischaemic stroke?
Blockage in brain area which causes loss of blood and O2 to that area–> cell death
Haemorrhagic stroke?
Blood vessel becomes broken–> blood enters the brain
What is a venous infarction?
A vein has been broken/haemorrhaged in the brain and blood spreads out into the brain
What causes venous infarctions?
Venous sinus thrombosis (blood clotting) and changes in blood viscosity
What is the pattern of damage after ischaemic damage?
Initial area where there is reduction of blood flow–> main area of concern–> definite neuronal loss
Damage can spread to areas outside of this
Ischaemic penumbra?
An area which is less affected by the ischaemic damage but still affected
What can cause ischaemic penumbra?
Loss of blood supply, and release of substances by already dead neurons
Size of the infarction over time compared to penumbra?
Infarction increases to where the penumbra is, so penumbra decreases
What are stroke treatments aimed at?
Reducing area of penumbra, as it is reversible damage
What are the main types of glial cells in the nervous system?
Oligodendrocytes
What are oligodendrocytes involved with?
Myelination of axons in the CNS
What are the meninges?
Blood vessel containing membrane over the surface of the brain
Different types of menginital infection?
Bacterial, fungal, viral
What is polio caused by?
An RNA virus
Effect of polio on CNS?
Destruction of neurons in the spinal cord
How were scientists able to map spinal cord areas to control of certain muscles?
Observed loss of muscle control depending on different areas of the spinal cord that was affected by polio
Main issues with neurodegenerative diseases?
Unknown cause, no cure, progressive, both sporadic and inherited forms and they are often age dependent
Which neurodegenerative disease is transmissable?
Prion diseases
What is alzheimers associated with?
Gross brain atrophy
What is gross brain atrophy?
The loss of neurons in the brain
Which proteins is alzheimers associated with?
Beta amyloid tangles and plaques
Which two diseases are forms of dementia?
Alzheimers and Prions disease
Which form of dementia is transmissable?
Prion disease
Which neurodegenerative diseases are movement disorders?
Parkinsons and Huntingtons
What kind of atrophy is parkinsons associated with?
Loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra
Which protein and mutation is Huntingtons disease associated with?
Increased amount of Huntingten protein with CAG repeats in the sequence
Which diseases are amyloidogenic?
Alzheimers, parkinsons, prion
What are amyloidogenic diseases?
Diseases where aggregates of a protein form a deposit
Which disease is characterised by the formation of intracellular protein deposits?
Parkinsons
Which disease is characterised by the formation of extracellular protein deposits?
Alzheimers
What is the most common neurodegenerative disease?
Alzheimers
Most common cause of dementia?
Alzheimers
