Integrated Pathology MCQs on Ageing and Disease

Study Notes

Ageing and Disease Association (Question 1): Phenylketonuria is not associated with ageing. Other diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cataracts are linked to the process of ageing.
Incorrect Statement about Diseases (Question 2): The statement that cancer is a major cause of death in progeria is incorrect.
Progeria Features (Question 3): Tall stature is not a feature of progeria. Symptoms include thinning skin, prominent scalp veins, severe arthritis, and decreased sexual maturity.
Calorie Restriction Effects (Question 4): Calorie restriction reduces advanced glycation endproducts in body tissues, not increases. It also reduces lifespan in mammals and does not increase free radical activity.
Incorrect Statement about Ageing (Question 5): Calorie restriction does not reduce age-associated mutations. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and a free radical scavenger. Progeria sufferers' life expectancy is typically 13 years. Alopecia is not a feature of progeria patients.

Definition of Ageing (Question 6): A gradual decline in cells, organs, and tissues' function is termed senescence.
Cellular Division and Transplant (Question 7): Fibroblasts from an embryo divide approximately 50 times. Transplanting an old nucleus into a young cytoplasm doesn't change the new cell's lifespan, whereas a young nucleus in an old cell maintains the original lifespan of the young cell. Telomerase cannot prevent telomere shortening.
Free Radical Damage (Question 8): Free radicals damage proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.
Superoxide Radical Properties (Question 9): The superoxide radical has two unpaired electrons and is more reactive than the hydroxyl radical. Hydrogen peroxide is a free radical.
Protein Glycation (Question 10): The extent of protein glycation depends on blood glucose concentration. The acyclic form of glucose participates in glycation.

Telomerase Activity (Question 11): Telomerase is switched on in cancer cells and haemopoietic cells but always off in every cell.
Lipofuscin Accumulation (Question 12): Lipofuscin accumulation increases with age. Lipofuscin is susceptible to enzymatic digestion and is a yellow-brown pigment. It's stored in lysosome-like structures.
Definition of Lifespan (Question 13): Lifespan is the maximum age attained by a member of a specific species.
Renal Function Assessment (Question 14): Plasma creatinine measurements are used to assess renal function.

Organelle Changes with Age (Question 15): Ageing cells exhibit abnormal shaped organelles. Skin collagen elasticity decreases, T-lymphocyte function declines and aged livers reduce the detoxification of drugs. Lens crystallins become more cross-linked with age.