Casus 3 Alzheimer

Question 1

What subtypes of Alzheimer are there?

Answer 1

Early onset: genetics take a big role
late onset: after the age of 65 symptoms start to occur.

Question 2

What parts of the brain can be affected in Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 2

• mlt sparing: no problems with memory but difficulties in executive functions
• limbic predominant: older age, ApoE4 gen, low tau
• lateral temporal: tau accumulates in the temporal lobe.
• posterior: accumulation of tau in the visual cortex, causing difficulties in orientation

Question 3

What are the most common symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 3

• anterograde amnesia
• inability to read and write
• generaly unaware of surroundings

Question 4

What are the 5 A’s in Alzheimer’s?

Answer 4

• agnosia
• anomia
• aphasia
• apraxia
• amnesia

Question 5

What is found in brain of AD patients in autopsy?

Answer 5

• amyloid beta plaques
• neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein
• substantial loss of neurons

Question 6

How is AD diagnosed?

Answer 6

• MMSE score: cognitive test
• MRI: severe atrophy of the cortex with wide sulci and narrow gyri
• PET-scan: measures glucose usage in the brain, 18F-2-Fluoroldeoxy-D-glucose.

Question 7

What genes are when overexpressed linked to Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 7

• ApoE4
• APP
• PS1(cause of early onset)

Question 8

What are the types of treatment for Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 8

• immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies
• Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Question 9

What are the two ways of making a transgenic mouse model?

Answer 9

• genes are injected via DNA constructs in the pronucleus of fertilized mouse
• manipulate the stem cells of the embryonic mouse selective through loss of function mutations

Question 10

What type of lipids are linked to Alzheimers disease, and what is the name of the precursor?

Answer 10

Sphingolipids, are made out of Ceramide.