Alzheimer’s Disease &= nbsp; BIO100 Principles of Biology &nbs= p; Spring 2005
1= . = Define the following words or phrases (give examples where appropriate):
Acetylcholine
Alpha-secretase
Amyloid-beta
Antioxidant
APOE
Auto-immune disease
Axons
Beta-secretase
Cerebral cortex
Dementia
Dendrite
Early-onset AD
Gamma-secretase
Hippocampus
Microglial cells
Neuron
Neurotransmitter
Presenilins
Senile
Synapses
Tau
2.&n= bsp; What is the difference between a plaque and a tangle?
3.&n= bsp; How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?
4.&n= bsp; What are 3 predictions based on the hypothesis “The formation of A-beta into plaques causes neuronal networks to deteriorate in AD patients”? What studies were done to test the= se predictions and what was found?
5.&n= bsp; What is so confusing about plaques (A-beta) as a pr= ime suspect of deteriorating neuronal networks?
6.&n= bsp; What are the 2 predictions based on the hypothesis “Changing how the phosphate groups are added to = Tau will lead to the appearance of tangles and the destruction of neuronal netw= orks in AD”? Are these predi= ctions supported by experimental research? If so, how?
7.&n= bsp; What is familial vs. sporadic AD
8.&n= bsp; Look at the pedigree on page 14 of the Alzheimer’s book. In the family depicted to the far left (the daughter of the first parents with her husband and children), one child has inherited the gene for AD. Describe the inheritance of the di= sease (when it has a genetic basis). What is the probability that the son with the AD allele will pass that trait to = his child?
9.&n= bsp; What are the three genes involved with early-onset = AD? Are these genes more associated with plaques or tangles? How do we know?
10.&= nbsp; How do researchers think these genes contribute to dementia?
11.&= nbsp; How are microglial cells implicated in progressive dementia?
12.&= nbsp; How is education related to the risk of developing AD? Why are these studies suspect?
13.&= nbsp; What drugs are being used to treat AD? How do they work?
14.&= nbsp; Aside from drug therapy, a couple of other approaches to controlling AD have been suggested. What are 2 of thes= e and do you think they may work to control or alleviate this disease (part of wh= at we will discuss)?