Deck 6: Neurodegenerative Diseases

Question 1

What specific changes in the brain are noted in patients Alzheimer's Disease?

A) Loss of cholinergic neurons with formation of plaques and tangles
B) Protein deposits in nerve cells
C) Atrophy of the caudate nucleus
D) Chronically enlarged ventricles

Answer 1

A
Explanation: Protein deposits in nerve cells are more indicative of Lewy Body dementia. Atrophy of the caudate nucleus is more indicative of Huntington's disease. Chronically enlarged ventricles is more indicative of normal pressure hydrocephalus. Loss of cholinergic neurons with formation of plaques and tangles is noted in patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Question 2

Which of these is not a risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease?

A) Increased age
B) Male gender
C) Lower education level
D) Family history

Answer 2

B
Explanation: The risk of AD does increase with age, especially over age 60. Those with higher level of education tend to have lower rates of AD, although education level does not seem to affect the severity of the disease if diagnosed. There is a form of AD referred to as familial Alzheimer's Disease which tends to have early onset (before age 65) with mutations in chromosomes 1,14, or 21. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. AD is more common in females, making B the correct answer.

Question 3

Which of the following does not help to slow the progression of Alzheimer's Disease?

A) NSAIDs
B) Moderate ethanol intake
C) Decreased caffeine intake
D) Strong social support

Answer 3

C
Explanation: NSAIDs, moderate ethanol intake and strong social support may all help slow the progression of AD; decreased caffeine intake is not one of the factors shown to slow disease progression.

Question 4

How does Donepezil work to treat patients with Alzheimer's Disease?

A) It is an antagonist at the glutamate receptors, decreasing the amount of glutamate in the brain to decrease nerve degeneration
B) Inhibits acetylcholinesterase, thereby increasing the amount of available acetylcholine.
C) Dopamine receptor antagonist
D) Inhibits acetylcholine

Question 5

What populations are at risk for Huntington's Disease?

A) Northwestern European
B) Ashkenazi Jews
C) African Americans
D) Asians

Question 6

At what age do symptoms of Huntington's Disease typically begin to appear?

A) 30-50 years old
B) 20-30 years old
C) Over age 50
D) Under age 20

Question 7

What is the most common form of dementia?

A) Vascular dementia
B) Frontotemporal dementia
C) Lewy body dementia
D) Alzheimer's Disease

Question 8

Which of these is not a typical symptom of Huntington's Disease?

A) Masked facies
B) Wide, prancing gait
C) Hesitant speech
D) Moodiness

Question 9

Which of these is true about the genetic basis of Huntington's Disease?

A) Homozygotes and heterozygotes both express the disease with the same severity
B) Huntington's Disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern
C) Huntington's Disease is only inherited and cannot occur sporadically
D) The sex of the parent from whom the HD allele is inherited does not influence the expression of the allele.

Question 10

How can Alzheimer's Disease be definitively diagnosed?

A) Post mortem autopsy
B) CT
C) MRI
D) Laboratory testing for the APOE e4 allele