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BAB > L21: Ageing Brain > Flashcards

L21: Ageing Brain Flashcards

1
Q

In a normal ageing brain what are the 4 broad types of changes that occur

A

Macroscopic changes
Cellular changes
Molecular changes
Clinical changes

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2
Q

What are the macroscopic changes that occur in a normal ageing brain

A

Ventricular enlargement
Cortical thinning
Decrease post morgen weight
Accumulation of more white matter

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3
Q

What are the cellular changes that occur in the normal ageing brain

A

Axonal loss
Mitochondrial changes
Less synapses per cell NOT number of cells

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4
Q

What are the molecular changes that occur in a normal ageing brain

A

Altered gene expression of key neurotransmitter
Disrupted calcium signalling
Epigenetics changes

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5
Q

What are the clinical changes that occur in a normal ageing brain

A

Cognitive decline
Decreased well being
Low mood
Increased risk of neurodegenerative disease

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6
Q

When the synapses change in which area is it most affected

A 
Pre-frontal cortex 
Hippocampus 
Striatum 
Temporal lobes 
Cerebellum
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7
Q

What happens to the number of microglia with age

A

Increase

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8
Q

What are functions of microglia cells

A
  • clear debris such as beta amyloid
  • trigger repair by astrocyte stimulation stem cell recruitment to convert it to astrocytes
  • release growth factors and neurotrophins
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9
Q

What are the 2 ways which microglia cells become activated

A
  • inflammation which switches it to M1 to MHC2

- damage to astrocytes

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10
Q

What are the changes that occur at the synapse of neurotransmission

A
  • mitochondria do not function well and produce less ATP so less neurotransmitters are exocytosed
  • change in gene expression of transporters that get neurotransmitter into the synaptic space
  • changes in number and affinity of post- synaptic receptors
  • changes in calcium homeostasis that usually triggers AP so AP is affected
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11
Q

What happens to the level of dopamine

A

Decreases

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12
Q

What happens to the level of acetycholine

A

Decreases

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13
Q

Why does ach levels decrease

A

Reduction in the enzyme CAT that converts the ach precursor into ach

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14
Q

What happens to the levels of GABA

A

Decreases

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15
Q

Why does GABA levels decrease due to

A

Decrease in GAD enzyme that produces GABA

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16
Q

What are the types of memory in a normal brain and what are they associated with

A

Semantic memory: factual memory
Episodic memory: events
Working memory: thinking and saying something
Procedural memory- memory tasks e.g riding a bike

17
Q

Does Alzheimer’s disease have treatment

A

No

18
Q

What is the hypothesis that suggests pathology for Alzheimer’s disease

A

Amyloid hypothesis

19
Q

What is the amyloid hypothesis about

A

Accumulation of beta amyloid which triggers inflammation reaction that leads to cell death

20
Q

What is amyloid beta a derivative of

A

Amyloid precursor protein (APP)

21
Q

What are the 2 types of intellectual failure

A

Mild cognitive impairment

Delirium

22
Q

What is mild cognitive impairment

A

When people have a cognitive deficit but not dementia

It does not affect normal functioning

23
Q

What is delirium

A

Occurs with age

24
Q

What is dementia

A

A chronic syndrome that impairs cognition not just memory and affects everyday function

25
Q

What are the causes of dementia

A 
Alzheimer’s disease 
Vascular disease
Lew body dementia 
Fonto-temporal dementia 
Posterior corticol atrophy
26
Q

Describe the process that occurs in the amyloid hypothesis in Alzheimer’s

A

1) there is a missense mutation in APP, PS1, PS2 gene
2) this leads to increased production of amyloid beta and accumulation
3) as amyloid beta accumulated it joins together to from plaques
4) plaques affect the synapses and activate microglia and astrocytes (inflammatory cells)
5) inflammation coupled with plaques leads to changes in the synapses
6) this affects the enzymes kinase and phosphatase that lead to tangles
7) this leads to damage to neurones and neurotransmitters accompanied with cell death
8) tau also occurs intracellular

27
Q

When can Alzheimer’s disease be inherited

A

If there is a missense mutation of the APP gene

28
Q

When is Alzheimer’s disease sporadic

A

Due to age and failure of amyloid beta clearance mechanism

Therefore there is accumulation of amyloid beta in the brain

29
Q

What is the difference between the number of cells in a normal ageing brain and Alzheimer’s

A

Normal ageing brain: same number of cells but smaller

Alzheimer’s disease: less number of cells due to cell death

BAB (21 decks)

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