Question 1

Which of the following is being investigated as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

The presence of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is being investigated as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The APOE gene provides instructions for making a protein that helps carry cholesterol and other types of fats in the bloodstream. There are three different forms (alleles) of the APOE gene: ε2, ε3, and ε4. Having the ε4 allele is associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, with the risk increasing with the number of ε4 alleles present.

Question 2

Darcia's family has noticed very subtle signs of intellectual decline, most notably in executive functions. Her family is concerned even though this factor has not interfered with daily life. What is her diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

The subtle signs of intellectual decline without interference with daily life suggest mild cognitive impairment. Dementia would involve more significant interference with daily life, while delirium is typically marked by acute confusion and altered consciousness. Peresenile dementia is not a recognized diagnostic term.

Question 3

Which of the following is a strategy recommended for the caregivers of Alzheimer's patients?

Accepted Answer

Color coding rooms in the house can help Alzheimer's patients navigate and remember which rooms are which. Writing in large letters and speaking slowly may not be effective communication strategies for all patients. Increasing protein in the diet is not necessarily a recommended strategy for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients.

Question 4

Research on stress for caregivers of Alzheimer's victims has shown that which of the following is of the greatest importance?

Accepted Answer

Caregivers of Alzheimer's victims often face uncertainty about what will happen next, such as unpredictable behaviors and increasing care needs, which can cause significant stress. It is important for caregivers to have support and resources to navigate these challenges. Questions about inheritance or medication efficacy may also be important, but the stress related to uncertainty about the future is typically the most pressing for caregivers.

Question 5

Former President Ronald Reagan suffered from

Accepted Answer

Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994, five years after leaving office as President.

Question 6

What is one way of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is one way of diagnosing Alzheimer's...

Question 7

What do Alzheimer's disease and Pick's diseases have in common?

Accepted Answer

Both Alzheimer's disease and Pick's disease are neurodegenerative disorders that can only be definitively diagnosed after examining brain tissue during an autopsy.

Question 8

Pick's disease is most likely to develop between the ages of

Accepted Answer

Pick's disease typically develops in individuals over the age of 60, with the average age of onset being around 65 years old. While it can develop earlier or later, it is most commonly diagnosed in this age range.

Question 9

Which of the following individuals is most likely to develop Pick's disease?

Accepted Answer

Pick's disease, also known as frontotemporal dementia, most commonly affects individuals between the ages of 40 and 60. Ken, being 65 years old, is the most likely candidate among the options provided, as the disease typically does not have a direct association with syphilis or alcohol abuse, nor is it most prevalent in individuals as young as the other options.

Question 10

Jamar has been diagnosed with a less common form of Alzheimer's disease. His diagnosis would be:

Accepted Answer

Pick's disease is a less common form of Alzheimer's disease, also called frontotemporal dementia. Huntington's disease affects the nervous system and causes involuntary movements and Parkinson's disease primarily affects motor skills and movement. Crone's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Question 11

What is the cause of Huntington's disease?

Accepted Answer

Huntington's disease is caused by a dominant gene, meaning that a person only needs to inherit one copy of the gene to develop the disease. The gene in question codes for a protein called huntingtin, and a mutated version of the protein causes degeneration of certain neurons in the brain, leading to the symptoms associated with the disease.

Question 12

Chorea is a symptom of

Accepted Answer

Chorea is mainly associated with Huntington's disease, a genetic disorder that affects the brain and causes involuntary movements, cognitive decline, and emotional disturbances. It is not typically a symptom of vascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, or Parkinson's disease.

Question 13

If one parent is affected with Huntington's disease, what are the odds that a child will inherit the disorder?

Accepted Answer

Huntington's disease is caused by a dominant gene defect, meaning that an affected person has a 50% chance of passing the gene to each of their children.

Question 14

Newly developed genetic tests make it possible to determine if individuals have the genes for diseases such as Huntington's disease. Because Marsha and Ray know that the disease runs in their families, they had their newborn daughter tested. If the genetic test reveals that the baby has the gene for Huntington's disease, what is the likely outcome?

Accepted Answer

If the genetic test reveals that the baby has the gene for Huntington's disease, it means that she has inherited the mutated gene from one or both of her parents. This gene causes the progressive deterioration of brain cells, leading to the onset of symptoms such as loss of motor control, cognitive decline, and emotional disturbances. There is currently no cure or treatment for Huntington's disease, and individuals who have the gene are certain to develop the disease at some point in their lives. The age of onset may vary, but it usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. Therefore, if the baby has the gene for Huntington's disease, she will inevitably develop the disease at some point in her life.

Question 15

Which disorder is an autosomal dominant disorder?

Accepted Answer

Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant disorder, meaning that a person only needs to inherit one copy of the mutated gene from one parent to develop the disease. The other disorders listed (Pick's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease) are not inherited in a simple dominant pattern.

Question 16

Which symptom is found in Huntington's disease?

Accepted Answer

Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder that causes neurological degeneration. One of the hallmark symptoms of the disease is choreiform movements, which are involuntary and repetitive movements of the limbs, face, and torso. Fugue, mania, and cataplexy are not commonly associated with Huntington's disease.

Question 17

What are choreiform movements?

Accepted Answer

Choreiform movements are spasmodic, jerky, and twisting. They are often seen in neurological conditions such as Huntington's disease.

Question 18

A neurologist diagnosed a patient as suffering from Huntington's disease. The patient wants to know what other symptoms he can expect to develop as the disease progresses. Which symptoms will the neurologist list as likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain and causes a range of symptoms, including dementia, depression, and hallucinations. Other common symptoms may include involuntary movements, difficulty with coordination and balance, and speech and swallowing problems. Anorexia, aphasia, mania, apraxia, apathy, insomnia, amnesia, delusions, and double vision are not typically associated with Huntington's disease.

Question 19

Which psychological symptoms are often associated with Huntington's disease?

Accepted Answer

Depression, obsessions, and compulsions are often associated with Huntington's disease due to the degeneration of certain areas in the brain that affect emotional regulation and cognitive functioning. Flat affect and slurred speech may also be present, but euphoria is less common. Restlessness, disorientation, and insomnia may be seen in later stages of the disease, while drowsiness, lack of attention, and memory loss are not prominent symptoms.

Question 20

Huntington's disease is associated with deficiencies in

Accepted Answer

Huntington's disease is caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene, which leads to degeneration of neurons in the brain. This degeneration is linked to deficiencies in the neurotransmitter gamma-amino-butyric-acid (GABA), which plays a critical role in regulating neuronal excitability. Deficiencies in acetylcholine, beta amyloid, and apolipoprotein E have all been implicated in other neurological disorders, but not in Huntington's disease.

Quiz 13: Cognitive Impairment Disorders