Neuroscience and Neurodegenerative Diseases

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Questions and Answers

What type of neurons are primarily degenerated in Huntington's disease?

Cholinergic neurons

Dopaminergic neurons

GABAergic neurons (correct)

Serotonergic neurons

Which neurotransmitter is likely deficient in individuals exhibiting jerky involuntary movements?

Serotonin

GABA (correct)

Acetylcholine

Dopamine

How often is Huntington's disease hereditary?

Definitely (correct)

Uncommonly

Rarely

Sometimes

If an individual has 119 CAG repeats in their DNA, how many CAG repeats are present in their protein?

119 Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum number of CAG repeats associated with the manifestation of Huntington's disease?

120 Signup and view all the answers

What condition is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra?

Parkinson's Disease Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following groups would be at the highest risk of developing Parkinson's Disease?

Farmers in Central California working with pesticides and having a susceptibility gene Signup and view all the answers

What is the main neurotransmitter affected in Parkinson's Disease?

Dopamine Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following symptoms is NOT typically associated with Parkinson's Disease?

Memory loss Signup and view all the answers

In Parkinson's Disease, the role of environmental factors such as pesticides is best described as:

A contributing factor in gene-environment interactions Signup and view all the answers

Which disease is characterized by specific initial brain area degeneration affecting motor control?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Signup and view all the answers

Which cellular event is most commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease?

Formation of amyloid plaques Signup and view all the answers

What mutation type is involved in Huntington's disease?

Trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene Signup and view all the answers

Which behavior is commonly observed in a person with Parkinson’s disease?

Tremors at rest Signup and view all the answers

How does organ donation relate to brain death in Singapore?

The government presumes consent for organ donation. Signup and view all the answers

Which disease is characterized by extracellular amyloid beta plaques and intracellular tau tangles?

Alzheimer’s Disease Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is known to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease?

Presence of the APOE gene Signup and view all the answers

What is the behavioral effect of motoneuron loss in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?

Progressive muscle weakness and eventual paralysis Signup and view all the answers

Which group is likely to have the largest ventricles based on age and disease status?

Someone with Alzheimer's Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following neurodegenerative diseases is known for causing the loss of motor neurons?

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Signup and view all the answers

When comparing brain tissue across different conditions, which group is expected to have the most brain tissue?

Normal adult Signup and view all the answers

How hereditary is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in known cases?

Approximately 10% of cases are hereditary Signup and view all the answers

Which area of the brain is primarily affected first in Alzheimer's Disease?

Hippocampus Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning Objectives

Rank young, old, and Alzheimer's brains based on ventricle size and brain tissue volume
Identify the initial brain regions affected by Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease
Describe how individuals with Alzheimer's disease, ALS, Huntington's disease, or Parkinson's disease behave
Identify cellular events in the brains of individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease, ALS, Huntington's disease, or Parkinson's disease
List the DNA and protein-level mutations causing Huntington's disease
Predict the likelihood of a child inheriting ALS based on parental genotypes

Brain States and Function

The provided infographic categorizes cognitive function states against motor function
States range from fully conscious and aware to unresponsive and unaware
Normal brain function is positioned in the complex, purposeful, and voluntary motor function section
Brain death is placed at the absent motor function segment
Coma, minimally conscious states, vegetative states are placed within the absent and reflex to complex motor function.

Singapore's Organ Donation Policy

Upon brain death, the government takes ownership of individual organs
An opt-out system exists, but the government assumes consent for organ donation
This is unlike numerous other countries, often based on a concept of organ ownership after death

Questions about Death and Brain States

Questions posed include: Is death a point or a spectrum?
Who defines the point of death?
Specific neuro-related terminology is written.

Neurological Diseases

Alzheimer's Disease: Characterized by extracellular amyloid beta plaques and intracellular tau tangles in neurons. Symptoms include memory loss and behavioral disturbances
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A degenerative disease causing motor neuron loss in the spinal cord and brain stem.
Huntington's Disease: Characterized by chorea (involuntary movements). Degenerating neurons in the cortex and striatum (a brain region neighboring the substantia nigra). Mutant Huntingtin protein aggregates within neurons. The specific disease is caused by an extended repetition of CAG.
Parkinson's Disease: Characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Symptoms include resting tremor, postural instability, and gait disturbances. Parkinson's disease can be induced by a chemical. Environmental factors like pesticides may be a contributing factor in some cases

Genetics and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Huntington's disease is linked to a specific repetition within a gene
The number of repetitions predicts the development of Huntington's disease.

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Description

This quiz explores the differences in brain structure and function across various age groups and diseases such as Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, and Parkinson's. Participants will rank brain conditions based on ventricle size, identify affected brain regions, and analyze genetic factors influencing these diseases.