Neurologists Exam Neurodegenerative & Movement Disorders Flashcards

The triad of resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia is classic for which neurodegenerative disorder?

Answer: Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the cardinal motor triad of resting tremor, cogwheel rigidity, and bradykinesia due to dopaminergic neuron loss.

Which protein aggregate is the pathological hallmark found in Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease?

Answer: Alpha-synuclein (Lewy bodies)

Lewy bodies are intraneuronal aggregates of misfolded alpha-synuclein protein, defining the neuropathology of Parkinson's disease and LBD.

Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in which gene?

Answer: HTT (huntingtin)

Huntington's disease results from a CAG repeat expansion (>36 repeats) in the HTT gene encoding the huntingtin protein on chromosome 4.

Which finding on neuroimaging is most characteristic of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P subtype)?

Answer: Putaminal atrophy with T2 hypointensity and rim sign

MSA-P shows putaminal atrophy with T2 hypointensity and a hyperintense lateral rim (hot cross bun sign in MSA-C) on MRI.

The DaTscan (dopamine transporter scan) is used to differentiate Parkinson's disease from which condition?

Answer: Essential tremor

DaTscan shows reduced dopamine transporter uptake in PD but is normal in essential tremor, helping distinguish these two tremor disorders.

Which medication is considered the gold standard for symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease motor symptoms?

Answer: Levodopa/carbidopa

Levodopa combined with carbidopa (a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor) remains the most effective symptomatic treatment for Parkinson's motor features.