Neuropathology: Cerebral Injuries and Neurodegeneration

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Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of cerebral injuries due to chronic ischemia?

Infection with West Nile Virus
Atherosclerosis (correct)
Acute traumatic brain injury
Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Sudden-onset neurological deficits are characteristic of chronic cerebral ischemia.

False (B)

What are the three common clinical manifestations observed in individuals with chronic ischemic cerebral injuries, indicative of vascular dementia?

Gradual cognitive decline, gait disturbances, and urinary incontinence

In cerebral infarction, occlusion leads to _______, energy failure, and subsequent neuronal death.

ischemia Signup and view all the answers

Match the causes with their effects in cerebral infarction:

Thrombotic occlusion = Local ischemia and infarct Emboli from cardiac sources = Blockage of cerebral arteries leading to distal ischemia Systemic hypoperfusion = Widespread ischemia and potential for watershed infarcts Signup and view all the answers

Which pathological feature distinguishes multiple sclerosis (MS) from other demyelinating disorders?

Demyelinated plaques primarily in periventricular regions, spinal cord, and optic nerves (A) Signup and view all the answers

In Alzheimer's disease, the primary morphological change involves the presence of Lewy bodies within cortical neurons.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the underlying cause of an ischemic stroke?

arterial occlusion Signup and view all the answers

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a demyelinating disorder, is caused by ______.

infections Signup and view all the answers

Match the following neurodegenerative diseases with their primary protein accumulation:

Alzheimer's Disease = Beta-amyloid and tau Lewy Body Dementia = Alpha-synuclein Frontotemporal Dementia = Tau or TDP-43 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following mechanisms is NOT typically implicated in the pathogenesis of cerebral neurodegenerative injuries?

Vessel rupture due to hypertension (A) Signup and view all the answers

Hemorrhagic strokes are solely caused by thrombosis.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary functional consequence of demyelinating disorders like multiple sclerosis?

Impaired neural signal transmission (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the MOST immediate concern in the clinical management of sudden-onset neurological deficits?

Minimizing irreversible neurological damage through time-sensitive interventions (B) Signup and view all the answers

Chronic cerebral ischemia primarily results in sudden, acute neurological deficits rather than gradual cognitive decline.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Name two primary causes of cerebral infarction related to the heart.

Atrial fibrillation, endocarditis Signup and view all the answers

In chronic stages of cerebral ischemia, morphologic features often include brain atrophy and ________.

gliosis Signup and view all the answers

Match the cause of cerebral infarction to its mechanism:

Thrombotic occlusion = Local blockage of cerebral arteries Emboli from cardiac sources = Blockage due to dislodged material from the heart Systemic hypoperfusion = Generalized reduction in blood supply to the brain Vasculitis = Inflammation and narrowing of blood vessels Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pathological processes is a primary characteristic of demyelinating disorders?

Loss or damage to the myelin sheaths surrounding axons. (C) Signup and view all the answers

In Multiple Sclerosis (MS), demyelinated plaques are typically found in the peripheral nervous system rather than the central nervous system.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary underlying cause of ischemic stroke?

arterial occlusion Signup and view all the answers

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by cortical atrophy, enlarged ventricles, and the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and ___________ plaques.

amyloid Signup and view all the answers

Match the following neurodegenerative diseases with their primary morphological findings:

Alzheimer's Disease = Neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques Lewy Body Dementia = Lewy bodies in cortical neurons Frontotemporal Dementia = Frontal and temporal lobe atrophy Multiple Sclerosis = Demyelinated plaques in the CNS Signup and view all the answers

Which pathological factor is common across neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Lewy Body Dementia, and Frontotemporal Dementia?

Progressive loss of neurons due to abnormal protein accumulation. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Hemorrhagic strokes are primarily caused by thrombosis or embolism.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

List three potential causes of demyelinating disorders of the nervous system.

autoimmune mechanisms, infections, genetic mutations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the primary mechanism of excitotoxicity in Huntington's Disease (HD)?

Excessive glutamate signaling through NMDA receptors. (C) Signup and view all the answers

The length of the CAG repeat expansion in the Huntingtin gene has no impact on the age of onset or severity of Huntington's Disease.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Besides motor symptoms, what are two other major categories of symptoms that characterize Huntington's Disease?

cognitive and psychiatric Signup and view all the answers

In Huntington's Disease, activated microglia and astrocytes contribute to __________, further exacerbating neuronal damage.

neuroinflammation Signup and view all the answers

Match each characteristic with its appropriate association in Huntington's Disease:

Autosomal Dominant = Inheritance pattern of HD Weight Loss and Muscle Atrophy = Common physical manifestations in HD patients Synaptic Plasticity and Dendritic Spine Morphology = Neurological changes in HD neurons Symptom Management = Current focus of HD treatments Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the primary pathological hallmark of Parkinson's Disease (PD)?

Presence of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites (B) Signup and view all the answers

In Huntington's Disease (HD), the mutation leads to an abnormally short polyglutamine stretch in the huntingtin protein.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main protein component found in Lewy bodies in Parkinson's Disease?

α-Synuclein Signup and view all the answers

The loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in Parkinson's Disease leads to a deficiency of __________ in the striatum.

dopamine Signup and view all the answers

Match the following genes with their associated neurodegenerative disease:

SNCA = Parkinson's Disease HTT = Huntington's Disease Signup and view all the answers

Which brain area is primarily affected in Huntington's Disease (HD)?

Striatum (B) Signup and view all the answers

Motor symptoms in Parkinson's Disease typically manifest before significant neuronal loss has occurred.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following cellular processes is NOT typically disrupted by mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) aggregates in Huntington's Disease?

Myelination (A) Signup and view all the answers

Acute Cerebral Ischemia Symptoms

Sudden neurological deficits like hemiparesis or speech issues.

Chronic Cerebral Ischemia Causes

Atherosclerosis or hypertension causing small vessel issues.