JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018
Medical Surgical Nursing
Easy
Deficiency of which of the following neurotransmitters in the brain will cause Alzheimer's disease?
Appeared in: JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018
Explanation
- Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the progressive loss of cholinergic neurons, which are the brain cells that produce and use acetylcholine.
- Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that is essential for processing memory and learning, functions that are severely impaired in Alzheimer's disease.
- This 'cholinergic deficit hypothesis' is supported by evidence of decreased levels of both acetylcholine and choline acetyltransferase (the enzyme that synthesizes ACh) in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
- The cognitive decline seen in the disease directly correlates with the reduction in cholinergic neurotransmission.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option B: Low levels of serotonin are primarily linked to mood regulation. While patients with Alzheimer's can experience depression, serotonin deficiency is not the cause of the core cognitive symptoms like memory loss.
- Option C: GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its deficiency is associated with conditions of hyperexcitability, such as anxiety and seizure disorders, not the neurodegeneration seen in Alzheimer's.
- Option D: Dopamine deficiency is the central cause of the motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. It affects movement control, and its loss leads to tremors, stiffness, and slow movement.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: Knowing Neurochemical basis of Alzheimer's disease helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
- Understanding the role of acetylcholine deficiency is crucial for pharmacotherapy in Alzheimer's. A primary class of drugs used to manage symptoms are acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors (e.g., Donepezil, Rivastigmine). These drugs work by blocking the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, thereby increasing its availability in the brain and temporarily improving cognitive function.
- Nurses must monitor patients on AChE inhibitors for cholinergic side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bradycardia.
- What if the patient presented with a resting tremor, shuffling gait, and a 'mask-like' facial expression instead of memory loss? The primary neurotransmitter deficiency to suspect would be dopamine, pointing towards Parkinson's disease, not Alzheimer's.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the key concepts in the question stem: 'deficiency,' 'neurotransmitter,' and 'Alzheimer's disease.'
- This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge about the pathophysiology of common neurological disorders.
- Recall the primary neurotransmitter associated with Alzheimer's disease. The 'cholinergic hypothesis' is a fundamental concept linking acetylcholine to the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's.
- Evaluate each option: Link Acetylcholine to Alzheimer's, Dopamine to Parkinson's, Serotonin to depression/anxiety, and GABA to anxiety/seizures.
- Select the option that correctly links the neurotransmitter to the specified disease.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Neurochemical basis of Alzheimer's disease
- Stem keywords: Deficiency, neurotransmitters, brain, Alzheimer's disease
- Lead-in keywords: which of the following
Question ID
Qep0bohNn5qSmbw5-QQLFf
Reference Book
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 780-782
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 4877-4879
Practise the full JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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