Alzheimer's Neuropathology Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

🧠 Quick Study Guide

• 🧬 Amyloid Plaques: Abnormal clusters of beta-amyloid protein fragments that accumulate between nerve cells. These plaques disrupt cell function.
• 🔥 Neurofibrillary Tangles: Twisted fibers of tau protein that build up inside nerve cells, leading to cell death.
• 📉 Brain Atrophy: A general shrinking of brain tissue, particularly in areas crucial for memory and learning like the hippocampus and cortex.
• 🧪 Inflammation: Chronic inflammation in the brain can contribute to neuronal damage and the progression of Alzheimer's.
• 🔬 Synaptic Dysfunction: Early in the disease, synapses (connections between neurons) are damaged and lost, impairing communication.
• 💡 Genetic Factors: Certain genes, such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, are linked to early-onset Alzheimer's, while APOE4 increases the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's.
• 🩸 Vascular Factors: Conditions affecting blood vessels in the brain (e.g., stroke, hypertension) can exacerbate Alzheimer's pathology.

📝 Practice Quiz

1. What protein is the primary component of neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease?
   1. Amyloid beta (Aβ)
   2. Tau
   3. Alpha-synuclein
   4. Prion protein
2. Which brain region is most notably affected by atrophy in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease?
   1. Cerebellum
   2. Hippocampus
   3. Amygdala
   4. Motor cortex
3. Amyloid plaques are primarily composed of which protein fragment?
   1. Tau protein
   2. Beta-amyloid
   3. Alpha-synuclein
   4. Prion protein
4. Which of the following is NOT a typical neuropathological feature of Alzheimer's disease?
   1. Amyloid plaques
   2. Neurofibrillary tangles
   3. Lewy bodies
   4. Brain atrophy
5. What is the role of APOE4 in Alzheimer's disease?
   1. It is a protective factor.
   2. It increases the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's.
   3. It causes early-onset Alzheimer's.
   4. It has no effect on Alzheimer's risk.
6. Synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease primarily impairs:
   1. Muscle movement
   2. Sensory perception
   3. Communication between neurons
   4. Balance and coordination
7. Which process contributes to neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease?
   1. Increased neurogenesis
   2. Reduced inflammation
   3. Chronic brain inflammation
   4. Enhanced synaptic plasticity