Higher Cerebral Function

Question 1

What are the six lobes of the cerebrum?

Answer 1

Frontal, Temporal, Parietal, Occipital, Insula, and Limbic lobes.

Question 2

What is the primary function of the frontal lobe?

Answer 2

Planning and executing learned and purposeful behaviors, motor control, social behavior modulation, and speech production.

Question 3

Which lobe is responsible for processing auditory and language information?

Answer 3

Temporal lobe.

Question 4

What are the functions of the parietal lobe?

Answer 4

Somatosensory processing, spatial awareness, and proprioception.

Question 5

What is the main function of the occipital lobe?

Answer 5

Processing visual information.

Question 6

Which lobe integrates sensory and autonomic information from the viscera?

Answer 6

Insular lobe.

Question 7

What is the function of the limbic lobe?

Answer 7

Memory, learning, and emotion regulation.

Question 8

What is the role of the primary motor cortex?

Answer 8

It generates voluntary body movements.

Question 9

What is the significance of Broca’s area?

Answer 9

Controls expressive language function, damage leads to expressive aphasia.

Question 10

What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?

Answer 10

Language comprehension, damage causes receptive aphasia.

Question 11

What is Gerstmann syndrome?

Answer 11

A condition caused by angular gyrus damage leading to deficits in writing, calculation, left-right orientation, and finger recognition.

Question 12

What is the function of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex?

Answer 12

Working memory and cognitive flexibility.

Question 13

What is the role of the orbital frontal cortex?

Answer 13

Modulation of social behaviors and emotional regulation.

Question 14

Which lobe is most commonly affected in neglect syndrome?

Answer 14

Parietal lobe (non-dominant side).

Question 15

What is Anton’s syndrome?

Answer 15

Cortical blindness with denial of visual deficits.

Question 16

What is the role of the thalamus in sensory processing?

Answer 16

Relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex (except for olfactory stimuli).

Question 17

What is the function of heteromodal association areas?

Answer 17

Integration of sensory, motor, and cognitive information for complex functions.

Question 18

What are common causes of focal cerebral dysfunction?

Answer 18

Stroke, tumors, trauma, demyelination, and infections.

Question 19

What is plasticity in the brain?

Answer 19

The brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt by forming new connections.

Question 20

What is redundancy in brain function?

Answer 20

More than one brain area can perform the same function, allowing for compensation after injury.

Question 21

What is dementia?

Answer 21

A neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by progressive cognitive decline affecting daily living.

Question 22

What are the main cognitive domains affected in dementia?

Answer 22

Memory, language, executive function, visuospatial skills, and attention.

Question 23

How is dementia different from delirium?

Answer 23

Dementia is chronic and progressive, while delirium is acute and reversible.

Question 24

What are the main types of dementia?

Answer 24

Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and HIV-associated dementia.

Question 25

What is the most common cause of dementia?

Answer 25

Alzheimer’s disease.

Question 26

What are the key features of Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 26

Memory loss, executive dysfunction, disorientation, and personality changes.

Question 27

What is vascular dementia?

Answer 27

Dementia caused by cerebrovascular disease leading to cognitive impairment.

Question 28

What is dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)?

Answer 28

A dementia characterized by fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations, and Parkinsonism.

Question 29

What is frontotemporal dementia (FTD)?

Answer 29

A dementia characterized by personality changes, disinhibition, and loss of executive function.

Question 30

What is mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?

Answer 30

A cognitive decline greater than expected for age but not severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Question 31

What percentage of MCI patients progress to dementia within 3 years?

Answer 31

Up to 50%.

Question 32

What are reversible causes of dementia?

Answer 32

Vitamin B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, normal pressure hydrocephalus, depression, and chronic infections.

Question 33

What is rapidly progressive dementia (RPD)?

Answer 33

A dementia that progresses within 1-2 years, often due to prion disease, autoimmune encephalitis, or paraneoplastic syndromes.

Question 34

What are prions?

Answer 34

Misfolded proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Question 35

What is the main risk factor for dementia?

Answer 35

Advancing age.

Question 36

What genetic factors contribute to Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 36

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 allele and mutations in APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 genes.

Question 37

What is the role of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 37

Extracellular deposits of misfolded amyloid-beta protein contributing to neurodegeneration.

Question 38

What is the role of tau protein in neurodegeneration?

Answer 38

Hyperphosphorylation of tau leads to neurofibrillary tangles, disrupting neuronal function.

Question 39

What is the most commonly used screening tool for dementia?

Answer 39

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Question 40

What laboratory tests should be performed in suspected dementia?

Answer 40

Complete blood count, electrolytes, thyroid function, vitamin B12, and HIV testing.

Question 41

What imaging modalities are useful in dementia diagnosis?

Answer 41

MRI, PET, and SPECT to assess brain atrophy and functional abnormalities.

Question 42

What is the first-line pharmacologic treatment for Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 42

Cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine).

Question 43

What is the role of NMDA receptor antagonists in dementia?

Answer 43

Memantine is used to reduce excitotoxicity and slow progression.

Question 44

What are non-pharmacologic interventions for dementia?

Answer 44

Cognitive stimulation, structured routines, physical exercise, and caregiver education.

Question 45

What are behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)?

Answer 45

Agitation, depression, hallucinations, aggression, and wandering.

Question 46

What is the prognosis of dementia?

Answer 46

Progressive decline with increased dependence on caregivers over time.

Question 47

What factors increase the risk of developing dementia?

Answer 47

Hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, head trauma, and low education level.

Question 48

What is sundowning in dementia?

Answer 48

Increased confusion and agitation in the late afternoon and evening.

Question 49

What role does neuroinflammation play in dementia?

Answer 49

Chronic inflammation contributes to neurodegeneration and synaptic loss.

Question 50

What is the most common cause of mixed dementia?

Answer 50

Alzheimer’s disease combined with vascular dementia.

Question 51

What is the significance of hippocampal atrophy in dementia?

Answer 51

Early and prominent feature in Alzheimer’s disease, linked to memory impairment.

Question 52

What is the typical life expectancy after a dementia diagnosis?

Answer 52

Varies by type; Alzheimer’s disease averages 8-10 years post-diagnosis.

Question 53

How can dementia be prevented or delayed?

Answer 53

Healthy diet, physical activity, social engagement, mental stimulation, and vascular risk management.