Alzheimer's

Question 1

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of

Answer 1

Dementia

Question 2

Alzheimer’s has been described as a ______ disease

Answer 2

Progressive

Question 3

In Alzheimer’s final stages, an individual will have difficulty

Answer 3

Swallowing

Controlling bladder

Question 4

2 defining characteristics of Alzheimer’s

Answer 4

Neurofibrillary tangles

Amyloid plaques

Question 5

What are neurofibrillary tangles?

Answer 5

Threadlike tangles of protein in neurocytoplasm

Question 6

What are amyloid plaques

Answer 6

Aggregrate clumps of scar tissue composed of degenerating neurons + protein

Question 7

A third defining characteristic of Alzheimer’s?

Answer 7

Neuron loss

Question 8

Neuron loss is substantial in the (3)

Answer 8

Cortex
Amygdala
Hippocampus

Question 9

How is genetics involved in Alzheimer’s?

Answer 9

50% chance of getting it if immediate family does

Question 10

Several ____ mutations linked to Alzheimer’s

Answer 10

Gene

Question 11

What is the treatment for Alzheimer’s ?

Answer 11

Currently no cure - isn’t clear which symptom is primary

Question 12

First effort at Alzheimer’s treatment focused on

Answer 12

Early declines in acetylcholine

Question 13

What is sometimes prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s?

Answer 13

Cholinergic agonists

Question 14

What is the Amyloid hypothesis?

Answer 14

Amyloid plaques - primary symptom

Causes all others

Question 15

Support for the Amyloid hypothesis?

Answer 15

Studies have identified 3 different gene mutations

All involved in amyloid synthesis

Question 16

What is the immunotheraputic approach?

Answer 16

Amyloid vaccine –> reduces plaque deposit

Question 17

Immunotheraputic approach

Human trial results were mixed –> (2)

Answer 17

1. Some therapeutic effects

2. Dangerous brain inflammations

Question 18

What are transgenic animals?

Answer 18

Genes from another species introduced

Question 19

What is the transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s?

Answer 19

Genes accelerating amyloid synthesis injected into mice

Showed amyloid plaques similar to Alzheimer’s patients

Question 20

What is the problem with the transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s ?

Answer 20

Mice don’t have neurofibrillary tangles

Question 21

The transgenic mouse model could have useful implications, but only where….

Answer 21

Amyloid plaques are the main symptom

Question 22

Alzheimer’s patients have reduced levels of _________

Answer 22

Acetylcholine

Question 23

Reduced acetylcholine is a product of…

Answer 23

Degeneration of basal forebrain (main source)

Question 24

What depletion seems to be the main cause of Alzheimer’s AMNESIA?

Answer 24

Acetycholine