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{{WBRQuestion
{{WBRQuestion
|QuestionAuthor={{Rim}}
|QuestionAuthor={{Rim}} (Reviewed by William J Gibson)
|ExamType=USMLE Step 1
|ExamType=USMLE Step 1
|MainCategory=Pathology
|MainCategory=Pathology
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|Explanation=Patient’s with [[Down syndrome]] have a high risk of developing [[Alzheimer’s]] disease at an early age, and this patient's symptoms are highly consistent with the disease. Neurofibrillary tangles are pathological protein aggregates found within neurons in cases of Alzheimer's disease. Tangles are formed by hyperphosphorylation of a microtubule-associated protein called tau, causing it to aggregate in an insoluble form.
|Explanation=Patient’s with [[Down syndrome]] have a high risk of developing [[Alzheimer’s]] disease at an early age, and this patient's symptoms are highly consistent with the disease. Neurofibrillary tangles are pathological protein aggregates found within neurons in cases of Alzheimer's disease. Tangles are formed by hyperphosphorylation of a microtubule-associated protein called tau, causing it to aggregate in an insoluble form.
|AnswerA=Neurofibrillary tangles
|AnswerA=Neurofibrillary tangles
|AnswerAExp=Neurofibrillary tangles are pathological protein aggregates found within neurons in cases of Alzheimer's disease. Patient’s with Down syndrome have a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease at an early age.
|AnswerAExp=Neurofibrillary tangles are pathological protein aggregates found within neurons in cases of Alzheimer's disease. Patient’s with Down syndrome have a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease at an early age due to increased gene dosage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) on chromosome 21.
|AnswerB=Pick bodies
|AnswerB=Pick bodies
|AnswerBExp=[[Pick bodies]] are silver-staining, spherical aggregations of tau protein in neurons associated with Pick's disease, a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.  The symptoms of Pick’s disease include memory deterioration in addition to mood and personality changes.
|AnswerBExp=[[Pick bodies]] are silver-staining, spherical aggregations of tau protein in neurons associated with Pick's disease, a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.  While Pick’s disease is characterized by memory loss, it is distinguished from Alzheimer's disease by often severe mood and personality change.
|AnswerC=Negri bodies
|AnswerC=Negri bodies
|AnswerCExp=[[Negri bodies]] are eosinophilic, sharply outlined, pathognomonic inclusion bodies (2–10 µm in diameter) found in the cytoplasm of certain nerve cells containing the virus of rabies.  Rabies cause acute encephalitis, and it is generally preceded by an animal bite.
|AnswerCExp=[[Negri bodies]] are eosinophilic, sharply outlined, pathognomonic inclusion bodies (2–10 µm in diameter) found in the cytoplasm of certain nerve cells containing rabies virus.  Rabies causes acute encephalitis, and it is generally preceded by an animal bite.
|AnswerD=Lewy bodies
|AnswerD=Lewy bodies
|AnswerDExp=Lewy bodies are abnormal aggregates of protein that develop inside nerve cells.  The main disease associated with the presence of Lewy bodies is [[Parkinson's disease]]. Lewy bodies are also present in [[neurons]] in dementia with Lewy bodies and the Lewy body variant of Alzheimer's disease.
|AnswerDExp=Lewy bodies are abnormal aggregates of protein (alpha-synuclein) that develop inside nerve cells.  The most common disease associated with the presence of Lewy bodies is [[Parkinson's disease]]. Lewy bodies are also present in [[neurons]] in dementia with Lewy bodies and the Lewy body variant of Alzheimer's disease.
|AnswerE=Spongioform changes
|AnswerE=Spongioform changes
|AnswerEExp=Spongiform change in the gray matter is the pathologic hallmark of [[Creutzfold Jacob disease]].  It is characterized by the presence of many round vacuoles in all six cortical layers of the cerebral cortex, giving the brain a "spongy" appearance.  These vacuoles appear glassy or eosinophilic and may coalesce.  Neuronal loss and gliosis are also seen in CJD.
|AnswerEExp=Spongiform change in the gray matter is the pathologic hallmark of [[Creutzfold Jacob disease]].  It is characterized by the presence of many round vacuoles in all six cortical layers of the cerebral cortex, giving the brain a "spongy" appearance.  These vacuoles appear glassy or eosinophilic and may coalesce.  Neuronal loss and gliosis are also seen in CJD.
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Glenner GG, Wong CW. Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome: sharing of a unique cerebrovascular amyloid fibril protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1984;122(3):1131-5.
Glenner GG, Wong CW. Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome: sharing of a unique cerebrovascular amyloid fibril protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1984;122(3):1131-5.
|RightAnswer=A
|RightAnswer=A
|WBRKeyword=Down syndrome, Mental retardation, Retardation, Intellectual disability, Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer, Dementia, Alzheimer disease, Cognitive, Cognitive decline, Neuropathology, Brain, Neurofibrillary tangles, Chromosome,
|WBRKeyword=Down syndrome, Mental retardation, Retardation, Intellectual disability, Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer, Dementia, Alzheimer disease, Cognitive, Cognitive decline, Neuropathology, Brain, Neurofibrillary tangles, Chromosome, Memory, Memory loss
|Approved=Yes
|Approved=Yes
}}
}}

Revision as of 00:41, 3 September 2014

 
Author [[PageAuthor::Rim Halaby, M.D. [1] (Reviewed by William J Gibson)]]
Exam Type ExamType::USMLE Step 1
Main Category MainCategory::Pathology
Sub Category SubCategory::Neurology
Prompt [[Prompt::A 37-year-old man with Down syndrome is brought to the family's physician for cognitive decline. The family reports that the patient’s memory has been deteriorating for the last year. He cannot recall the names of his brothers and sisters and often has difficulty finding words. He is unable to find his way back home and gets lost when a member of his family does not assist him. The presence of which of the following neuropathologic changes is most likely in this patient?]]
Answer A AnswerA::Neurofibrillary tangles
Answer A Explanation [[AnswerAExp::Neurofibrillary tangles are pathological protein aggregates found within neurons in cases of Alzheimer's disease. Patient’s with Down syndrome have a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease at an early age due to increased gene dosage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) on chromosome 21.]]
Answer B AnswerB::Pick bodies
Answer B Explanation [[AnswerBExp::Pick bodies are silver-staining, spherical aggregations of tau protein in neurons associated with Pick's disease, a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. While Pick’s disease is characterized by memory loss, it is distinguished from Alzheimer's disease by often severe mood and personality change.]]
Answer C AnswerC::Negri bodies
Answer C Explanation [[AnswerCExp::Negri bodies are eosinophilic, sharply outlined, pathognomonic inclusion bodies (2–10 µm in diameter) found in the cytoplasm of certain nerve cells containing rabies virus. Rabies causes acute encephalitis, and it is generally preceded by an animal bite.]]
Answer D AnswerD::Lewy bodies
Answer D Explanation [[AnswerDExp::Lewy bodies are abnormal aggregates of protein (alpha-synuclein) that develop inside nerve cells. The most common disease associated with the presence of Lewy bodies is Parkinson's disease. Lewy bodies are also present in neurons in dementia with Lewy bodies and the Lewy body variant of Alzheimer's disease.]]
Answer E AnswerE::Spongioform changes
Answer E Explanation [[AnswerEExp::Spongiform change in the gray matter is the pathologic hallmark of Creutzfold Jacob disease. It is characterized by the presence of many round vacuoles in all six cortical layers of the cerebral cortex, giving the brain a "spongy" appearance. These vacuoles appear glassy or eosinophilic and may coalesce. Neuronal loss and gliosis are also seen in CJD.]]
Right Answer RightAnswer::A
Explanation [[Explanation::Patient’s with Down syndrome have a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease at an early age, and this patient's symptoms are highly consistent with the disease. Neurofibrillary tangles are pathological protein aggregates found within neurons in cases of Alzheimer's disease. Tangles are formed by hyperphosphorylation of a microtubule-associated protein called tau, causing it to aggregate in an insoluble form.

Educational Objective: Neurofibrillary tangles are pathological protein aggregates found within neurons in cases of Alzheimer's disease.
References: First Aid 2014 page 90 (Down Syndrome) ; First Aid 2014 page 483 (Alzheimer's disease)

Glenner GG, Wong CW. Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome: sharing of a unique cerebrovascular amyloid fibril protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1984;122(3):1131-5.]]

Approved Approved::Yes
Keyword WBRKeyword::Down syndrome, WBRKeyword::Mental retardation, WBRKeyword::Retardation, WBRKeyword::Intellectual disability, WBRKeyword::Neurodegeneration, WBRKeyword::Alzheimer's disease, WBRKeyword::Alzheimer, WBRKeyword::Dementia, WBRKeyword::Alzheimer disease, WBRKeyword::Cognitive, WBRKeyword::Cognitive decline, WBRKeyword::Neuropathology, WBRKeyword::Brain, WBRKeyword::Neurofibrillary tangles, WBRKeyword::Chromosome, WBRKeyword::Memory, WBRKeyword::Memory loss
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