Integrated Pathology MCQs on Ageing and Disease

Phenylketonuria is a genetic disorder present from birth and not associated with aging.

Progeria is a rare genetic disorder characterized by premature aging and a short lifespan, not a cause of cancer.

Progeria is characterized by premature aging, including thin skin, prominent scalp veins, severe arthritis, and decreased sexual maturity, but not tall stature.

Calorie restriction, a dietary approach involving reduced calorie intake while maintaining nutrient balance, is associated with reducing advanced glycation endproducts in body tissues.

Alopecia, or hair loss, is not a feature of progeria. While progeria accelerates aging, it doesn't include hair loss as a symptom.

Senescence refers to the gradual decline of cells, organs, and tissues with age, leading to impaired function.

Telomerase is an enzyme that adds DNA to the ends of chromosomes (telomeres), helping to prevent them from shortening. It is usually switched off in most cells but becomes switched on in cancer cells.

Lipofuscins are yellow-brown pigments accumulated in cells with age. They are not easily digested by enzymes.

Lifespan refers to the maximum age attained by a member of a particular species.

Calorie restriction, a dietary approach involving reduced calorie intake while maintaining nutrient balance, has been shown to increase lifespan in rodents.

Skin collagen loses elasticity with age, leading to wrinkles and sagging.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, often associated with aging.

Cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye, its incidence increases with age.

The degeneration of dopamine-secreting neurons in the substantia nigra is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and impaired thinking.

Free radicals, highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons, can damage vital molecules within cells, including proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.

The superoxide radical is a free radical with one unpaired electron. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is not a free radical.

Glycation refers to the non-enzymatic attachment of sugar molecules, primarily glucose, to proteins.

Glucose in its open-chain (acyclic) form is the one that participates in the glycation reaction, not its cyclic form.

Telomerase is an enzyme that adds DNA to the ends of chromosomes, helping to prevent them from shortening. This activity is often switched on in cancer cells, contributing to their uncontrolled growth.

Lipofuscin accumulation, a marker of cellular aging, is a normal process. It refers to the build-up of yellow-brown pigments in cells, mainly due to oxidative stress.

Life expectancy refers to the average lifespan of individuals in a population, taking into account factors like disease, lifestyle, and environmental conditions.

Aged cells often exhibit abnormal shapes and functions, including altered organelles, increased cross-linking of lens crystallins, decreased elasticity of skin collagen, and impaired function of T-lymphocytes.

Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant defense mechanisms, leading to damage of cellular components and contributing to aging.

The Hayflick Limit refers to the number of times a normal human cell population can divide before losing its ability to replicate. This limit is approximately 50 divisions.

Transplanting the nucleus of an old cell into a young cytoplasm will result in a cell with the same lifespan as the transplanted nucleus, reflecting the role of nuclear DNA in controlling lifespan.

Transplanting the nucleus of a young cell into an old cytoplasm will result in a new cell with a lifespan similar to that of the young cell, supporting the notion that cytoplasmic factors influence lifespan.

Telomerase is an enzyme that can add DNA to the ends of chromosomes (telomeres), helping to prevent them from shortening. It is usually switched off in most cells but becomes switched on in cancer cells.