Parkinson's Trivia 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Michael J. Fox Foundation has raised over how much money for Parkinson's research as of the mid-2020s?
- Over $100 million
- Over $500 million
- Over $1 billion (Correct answer)
- Over $5 billion
Correct answer: Over $1 billion
The Michael J. Fox Foundation has raised over $1 billion for Parkinson's research, making it the largest nonprofit funder of the disease.
Question 2: Which neurotransmitter system, beyond dopamine, is significantly affected in Parkinson's disease and contributes to non-motor symptoms?
- Serotonin
- GABA
- Acetylcholine (Correct answer)
- Glutamate
Correct answer: Acetylcholine
The cholinergic (acetylcholine) system is significantly affected in Parkinson's, contributing to cognitive decline, hallucinations, and autonomic dysfunction.
Question 3: What does the term 'idiopathic Parkinson's disease' mean?
- Parkinson's caused by a genetic mutation
- Parkinson's with no identifiable cause (Correct answer)
- Parkinson's triggered by medication
- Parkinson's occurring in young adults
Correct answer: Parkinson's with no identifiable cause
Idiopathic means arising spontaneously or from an obscure cause; most Parkinson's cases have no identified genetic or environmental trigger.
Question 4: Which sleep disorder is strongly associated with early Parkinson's disease, where patients act out their dreams?
- Sleep apnea
- REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) (Correct answer)
- Restless leg syndrome
- Narcolepsy
Correct answer: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)
REM sleep behavior disorder, where people physically act out dreams, is a major prodromal marker and risk factor for developing Parkinson's disease.
Question 5: In Parkinson's disease staging, the Hoehn and Yahr scale ranges from stage 1 to stage 5. What does stage 5 represent?
- Mild unilateral symptoms
- Bilateral symptoms with balance difficulty
- Wheelchair-bound or bedridden without assistance (Correct answer)
- Severe tremor only
Correct answer: Wheelchair-bound or bedridden without assistance
Stage 5 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale represents the most severe disability, where the patient is wheelchair-bound or bedridden and requires full-time nursing care.
Question 6: What is 'micrographia' as a symptom of Parkinson's disease?
- Difficulty reading small text
- Abnormally small handwriting that decreases in size (Correct answer)
- Visual hallucinations involving tiny objects
- Inability to write due to tremor
Correct answer: Abnormally small handwriting that decreases in size
Micrographia is the progressive shrinking of handwriting, often becoming cramped and illegible, caused by impaired fine motor control in Parkinson's.
Question 7: Which gene mutation, found in some Ashkenazi Jewish and North African Berber populations, is the most common genetic risk factor for Parkinson's?
- PARK2 (Parkin)
- SNCA
- LRRK2 (Correct answer)
- GBA
Correct answer: LRRK2
Mutations in the LRRK2 gene (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) are the most common genetic cause of both familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's Trivia 4
The Michael J.
Fox Foundation has raised over how much money for Parkinson's research as of the mid-2020s?