Neurodegenerative Diseases

Question 1

Factors that affect the identification of neurodegenerative diseases

Answer 1

-Diagnostic criteria - clinical or neuropathological observation may not be specific enough and can be interpreted differently for different individual
-Old age - Some affected members die before age of onset, some characteristics of old age mimic aspects of the diseases
-Heterogeneity - A specific set of contributing factors may show influence in one ethnic group or geographic area but not the same for others

Question 2

Characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 2

-Global cognitive decline
-Accumulation of B-amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain

Question 3

Two types of Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 3

• Early Onset Familial Alzheimer’s Disease ( Autosomal Domiant)
  -Late Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

Question 4

Genes influencing Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 4

APP,PSEN1,PSEN2

Question 5

Genes influencing Late Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 5

Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) e4 allele

Question 6

Characteristics of Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 6

-Severe loss of dopamine neurons
-Accumulation of Lewy bodies

Question 7

Genes influencing Autosomal Dominant for of Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 7

SNCA and LRRK2 (PARK8)

Question 8

Genes influencing Autosomal Recessive form of Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 8

PARK2,PARK7,PINK1

Question 9

Characteristics of Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Answer 9

-Progressive cognitive impairment with fluctuating course
-Recurrent visual hallucinations and some parkinsonism

Question 10

Characteristic of Frontotemporal Dementia

Answer 10

-Degeneration of frontotemporal lobe