Question 1

While the form of amyloid protein that forms clumps has been the focus of prior research,another form of this same protein known as ___ may be even more important for the symptoms of Alzheimer's.

Accepted Answer

ADDLs (Amyloid-beta Derived Diffusible Ligands) are oligomers of the amyloid-beta protein that have been found to be more toxic to brain cells and more closely correlated with the cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer's disease than the larger, insoluble amyloid plaques that have traditionally been the focus of Alzheimer's research.

Question 2

Based on what you know now,if one of your grandparents was showing moderate to severe symptoms of Alzheimer's,you could explain to your family that Memantine may be partially helpful,even at this stage,based on the drug's effects on ___.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on what you know now,if one...

Question 3

When Alzheimer's disease destroys parts of the temporal lobes:

Accepted Answer

The temporal lobes are important for memory and contain the hippocampus, which plays a crucial role in the formation and retrieval of long-term memories. Destruction of the temporal lobes, as seen in Alzheimer's disease, can cut off the hippocampus from other parts of the brain and impair memory function.

Question 4

The brain pathology of Alzheimer's is associated with abnormal accumulations of ___ proteins.

Accepted Answer

The abnormal accumulations in Alzheimer's are amyloid and tau proteins. Beta and Aβ40/Aβ42 are types of amyloid proteins. Alzherimen is not a known protein associated with Alzheimer's.

Question 5

The earliest and most severe indicator of Alzheimer's is:

Accepted Answer

Deterioration of declarative memory, which includes the ability to recall facts, events, and personal experiences, is the earliest and most severe indicator of Alzheimer's disease. Other symptoms such as loss of language and memory for well-learned behavior may also occur, but they are typically not as severe or early-stage indicators. Non-declarative memory, which includes skills and habits, may also be affected but typically comes later in the disease progression.

Question 6

On her 83rd birthday,Aunt Jane did not recognize most of her grandchildren and forgot where she kept the good china.These are classic symptoms of:

Accepted Answer

The symptoms mentioned in the scenario, such as forgetting people and objects, are common signs of Alzheimer's disease. Korsakoff's syndrome is typically characterized by severe memory impairment related to chronic alcohol abuse, while consolidation dissociation refers to the idea that memories are stored and retrieved through different processes. None of these alternatives fit the description provided.

Question 7

Alzheimer's disease is a form of:

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia, which is a group of brain disorders that affect memory, thinking, and behavior. Long-term dissociation and hippocampal formation are not related to Alzheimer's disease.

Question 8

A disorder with similarities to Alzheimer's disease is:

Accepted Answer

Down's syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by cognitive and developmental delays, as well as physical features like low muscle tone and a flat facial profile. Like Alzheimer's disease, individuals with Down's syndrome experience progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. However, the mechanism of brain changes in Alzheimer's disease is not the same as in Down's syndrome.

Question 9

Alzheimer's disease is associated with degeneration of ___ neurons.

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease is primarily associated with degeneration of acetylcholine neurons, which play a critical role in memory and cognitive function. Loss of acetylcholine in the brain is thought to contribute to the symptoms of Alzheimer's, including memory loss, confusion, and declining cognitive abilities. While other neurotransmitters, including glutamate, dopamine, and serotonin, may also be affected in Alzheimer's disease, they are not typically the primary focus of degeneration in this condition.

Question 10

When aged mice were genetically engineered with an APP mutation that increased plaques:

Accepted Answer

The increased plaques in the aged mice with the APP mutation resulted in impaired LTP and spatial learning. This suggests that the plaques formed by the APP mutation negatively impacted these cognitive functions.

Question 11

The diseased brain of an Alzheimer's patient is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

The diseased brain of an Alzheimer's patient is characterized by both clumps of protein that inhibit neural transmission (called amyloid plaques) and neurofibrillary tangles. The protein clumps build up in the spaces between nerve cells and disrupt communications between nerve cells, while the neurofibrillary tangles are formed from twisted fibers of a protein called tau that normally help stabilize a neuron's internal support structure. Together, these two abnormalities are thought to contribute to the cognitive decline and memory loss seen in Alzheimer's disease.

Question 12

Environmental causes seem to have:

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that while environmental factors may play a role, genetic factors are more strongly associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Question 13

The Alzheimer's Association predicts that the number of people with Alzheimer's disease will increase by 350% by 2050.Why?

Accepted Answer

The baby boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964, is now aging and reaching the age where the risk of Alzheimer's disease increases significantly. As this age cohort moves into their 70s and 80s, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease is expected to increase significantly.

Question 14

Contrary to what might be predicted due to the observed memory loss,with age:

Accepted Answer

The number of synapses generally continues to increase with age.

Question 15

Some memory deficits in the elderly resemble:

Accepted Answer

Frontal lobe damage can result in deficits in working memory, attention, and retrieval of previously learned information, all of which can be similar to the memory deficits experienced by the elderly.

Question 16

All of the genes that have been found to influence the development of Alzheimer's disease:

Accepted Answer

The genes that have been found to influence the development of Alzheimer's disease affect amyloid protein production or deposits, which are a hallmark feature of the disease. Gender does not seem to be a significant factor in the genetics of Alzheimer's disease, and there is no known connection between the disease and glutamate. The genes that have been identified are located on various chromosomes, rather than being clustered together on a single chromosome.

Question 17

The two generally recognized forms of Alzheimer's disease are:

Accepted Answer

These are the two generally recognized forms of Alzheimer's disease based on age of onset. Early onset Alzheimer's disease (also known as "familial Alzheimer's disease") occurs before the age of 65 and is caused by genetic mutations, while late onset Alzheimer's disease occurs after the age of 65 and is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The other choices are not accurate descriptions of the two recognized forms of Alzheimer's disease.

Question 18

As an organism ages:

Accepted Answer

All of the above options are correct. As organisms age, LTP rates slow down, metabolic rates in cortical areas that input to the hippocampus and receive its output decrease, and myelin decreases which can lead to cognitive decline.

Question 19

A 2007 review of 789 studies on the genetic contributions to Alzheimer's concluded that ___ genes represent likely candidate genes for this disorder.

Accepted Answer

The 2007 review identified 13 genes as likely candidate genes contributing to Alzheimer's disease.

Question 20

The individuals who can't forget memories have evidence of:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that people who struggle to forget memories have increased activity in prefrontal areas, exhibit obsessive-compulsive behavior, and have difficulty inhibiting unwanted behavior. Therefore, all of the above are evidence of individuals who can't forget memories.

Quiz 12: Learning and Memory