Parkinson's Parkinson's Research and Pathophysiology

Question 1

Which genetic mutation is the most common known cause of familial Parkinson's disease in the US and Europe?

Accepted Answer

LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) mutation

Answer

PINK1 mutation

Answer

Parkin mutation

Answer

SNCA duplication

Question 2

The Braak staging system for Parkinson's disease describes:

Accepted Answer

The caudal-to-rostral spread of Lewy body pathology through the brain

Answer

The severity of tremor

Answer

The progression of cognitive decline

Answer

The response to dopaminergic therapy

Question 3

What is the current leading hypothesis for how alpha-synuclein pathology spreads in Parkinson's disease?

Accepted Answer

Prion-like cell-to-cell transmission

Answer

Blood-borne spread via circulation

Answer

Viral infection spread

Answer

Immune-mediated attack

Question 4

Mitophagy dysfunction in Parkinson's disease is linked to mutations in which two genes?

Accepted Answer

PINK1 and Parkin

Answer

LRRK2 and SNCA

Answer

GBA and DJ-1

Answer

ATP13A2 and UCHL1

Question 5

GBA gene mutations in Parkinson's disease are significant because they:

Accepted Answer

Are the most common genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease overall

Answer

Cause the mildest form of Parkinson's

Answer

Are only found in Ashkenazi Jewish populations

Answer

Have no effect on disease progression

Question 6

The gut-brain axis hypothesis of Parkinson's disease suggests that the disease may originate in:

Accepted Answer

The enteric nervous system of the gut

Answer

The peripheral motor neurons

Answer

The cerebellum

Answer

The thalamus