Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

MBD/MI (Wothaya) > Neurodegenerative Diseases > Flashcards

Neurodegenerative Diseases Flashcards

1
Q

What is neurodegeneration?

A

The progressive loss of neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What part of the nervous system do neurodegenerative diseases affect?

A

CNS, PNS or both

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

When do neurodegenerative diseases begin?

A

At any time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does an earlier age of onset mean?

A

Greater genetic contribution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does a later age of onset mean?

A

More likely sporadic disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the common pattern of most neurodegenerative diseases?

A

Molecular impairment in the cell
Decreased transmission at synapse
Dying back of neurites
Cell death

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What do neurodegenerative diseases frequently involve?

A

Protein aggregation
Lysosomal dysfunction
Mitochondrial dysfunction
Associated inflammation via activation of glia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are some of the clinical/ research issues in neurodegenerative diseases?

A

Rarely manifest obvious symptoms until pathology is severe
Study of affected tissue is tricky until after death
Remains incurable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the most common neurodegenerative disease?

A

Alzheimers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When is normal onset of alzheimers?

A

> 65 yrs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What proportion of alzheimers are early onset and when is this?

A

10%

30s onwards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What proportion of people have alzheimers aged 85+?

A

50%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What characterises dementia?

A

Decline in memory and other cognitive functions that impair quality of life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is ‘normal ageing’?

A

Gradual decline in normal cognition, gradual changes in personality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are some pathological hallmarks of dementia?

A

Brain shrinkage

Proteinopathies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What types of proteinopathies are present in dementia?

A

Amyloid plaques

Neurofibrillary tangles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are amyloid plaques enriched in?

A

A beta peptides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is another name for neurofibrillary tangles?

A

Paired helical filaments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is A beta?

A

Peptide cleaved from amyloid beta precursor protein which accumulates to form a plaque

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are neurofibrillary tangles?

A

Intracellular protein aggregates that are enriched in Tau protein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the amyloid hypothesis?

A

A beta and/or amyloid plaques are the cause of alzheimers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are the three protein mutations involved in the amyloid hypothesis?

A

APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2

23
Q

What are PSEN1 and 2 both components of?

A

Gamma secretase

24
Q

What does tau normally do?

A

Binds microtubules in axons

25
What does displacement of hyperphosphorylated tau cause?
Tangles and destabalised molecules
26
What are the three main roles of microtubules in post-mitotic cells?
Structure/ shape of a cell Positioning of organelles Motorways for transporting vesicular contents
27
Why is the tau hypothesis plausible?
In typical late onset alzheimers, neurofibrillary tangles are seen before amyloid plaques and well correlated with cell death and progression
28
What does the tau hypothesis suggest?
Tau is upstream of A beta
29
What are some other risk factors for alzheimers?
``` Down syndrome Gender (women) High BP, CVD and diabetes Low education Head injury Smoking and drinking Small genetic risk contribution ```
30
What is the second most common neurodegenerative disease?
Parkinsons
31
What is the average age of parkinsons disease onset?
60-65 yrs
32
What are the motor symptoms in parkinsons?
Resting tremor Bradykinesia Rigidity Postural instability
33
What are the non-motor symptoms of parkinsons?
``` Depression and anxiety Loss of smell Sleep disorders Constipation Dementia ```
34
What are some of the pathological hallmarks of parkinsons?
Loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra | Proteinopathies (Lewy bodies)
35
What are lewy bodies?
Intracellular protein aggregates enriched in alpha-synuclein protein
36
Are lewy bodies pathogenic?
No
37
What are the three rough categories for causes of parkinsons?
Early onset autosomal recessive mitochondrial conditions Late onset autosomal dominant Mutations that cause ‘parkinsons plus’ conditions
38
What causes Early onset autosomal recessive mitochondrial conditions?
Loss of function mutations in PINK1 and parkin cause decreased mitophagy
39
What does autosomal dominant parkinsons cause?
Alpha synuclein gene amplification LRRK2 gain of function VPS35 gain of function GBA loss of function
40
What does GBA encode?
GCas - a lysosomal enzyme
41
Where is alpha synuclein degraded?
In the lysosome
42
What is the pathogenic feed-forward loop?
Alpha-synuclein inhibits the transport of GCas into the lysosome, which decreases lysosomal function
43
How much of parkinsons is genetic?
30%
44
What are the risk factors for parkinsons?
``` Gender (men) Red hair Head injury Not smoking/consuming caffeine Herbicides, pesticides, insecticides Exposure to metals General anaesthesia ```
45
What is neuroinflammation?
Activation of the immune system within the nervous system
46
What are the features of reactive microglia?
Amoeboid shape More motile Production of cytokines Eventually phagocytic
47
How does neuroinflammation cause neurodegeneration?
Neurotoxic insult (causing neuronal damage/death) Release of microglial activators Reactive microglia release neurotoxic factors like IL-1B, TNF-alpha and prostaglandins
48
What can reactive microglia cause?
Protection or damage of neurons
49
How are reactive microglia protective of neurons?
Anti-inflammatory cytokine release -> contributes to normal removal of unhealthy cells
50
How can reactive microglia be damaging to neurons?
Proinflammatory cytokine release in response to pathogens
51
What does ageing induce a shift towards?
Production of damaging reactive microglia due to changes in microglia expression
52
What can microglia be activated by?
External triggers (Abeta, environmental toxins and pathogens)
53
What precedes lewy body pathology in brain?
Lewy body pathology in the gut
54
What are some effects of ageing?
Shortening of telomeres in adults Increased reactive oxygen species Changes in gene expression (decreased wnt beta catenin pathway in adult brain)

MBD/MI (Wothaya) (57 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions