Question

Alzheimer’s disease in humans is associated with the deficiency of
A) Glutamic acid
B) Dopamine
C) Gamma amino butyric acid(GABA)
D) Acetylcholine

Answer 1

This disease is a neurological disease characterised by progressive loss of intellectual ability. The disease has been named after German physician Alois Alzheimer(1864-1915). This disease leads to the shrinkage of brain tissues.

Complete Answer:
- The reduced concentration of acetylcholine and neocortex leads to alzheimer. This is caused by the degeneration of Cholinergic neurons. The degeneration also affects transmitter systems in younger Alzheimer patients.
- The concentration of serotonin,somatostatin and glutamate are reduced.Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter which is important for memory processing and learning.
- The brain changes that occur in Alzheimer's disease can influence moods and behaviours. Problems may involve the following:

1. Depression
2. Apathy
3. Social withdrawal
4. Mood swings
5. Distrust in others
6. Irritability and aggression
7. Changes in sleeping habits
8. Wandering
9. Loss of inhibition
10. Delusions, such as thinking that something was stolen

Thus the correct answer is option(d) Acetylcholine.

- Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia — a continuous loss in thought, behavioural and social abilities that disrupts a person's ability to work independently. Early symptoms of the disease can be forgetting recent events or conversations.
- As the disease progresses, a person with Alzheimer's disease may experience significant memory failure and lose the ability to perform daily tasks.
- Current Alzheimer's disease drugs can temporarily improve symptoms or slow down the rate of decline. These therapies may also allow people with Alzheimer's disease to optimise their functioning and retain their independence for a while. Different programmes and resources can help.

Note: There is no therapy that prevents Alzheimer's disease or affects the mechanism of the disease in the brain. In advanced stages of the disease, consequences of serious loss of brain function, such as dehydration, malnutrition or infection, result in death.