Brain Disorders Quiz: 15 Questions With Answers
Updated
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and stroke are among the most common brain disorders. Key facts: Alzheimer's involves amyloid and tau pathology, Parkinson's involves dopamine loss in the substantia nigra, and stroke is caused by interrupted blood flow.
This 15-question quiz tests your knowledge of seven major brain disorders: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and migraine. It is designed for students, healthcare professionals, and anyone curious about how these conditions affect the brain. Each question includes a detailed explanation, so you can learn as you go.
Before you begin, remember that these disorders affect specific brain circuits and regions. For example, Alzheimer's targets the hippocampus and cortex, while Parkinson's affects the basal ganglia and substantia nigra. Understanding the anatomy behind each disease will help you answer the questions and grasp why symptoms differ.
The questions
Which brain region shows the earliest and most severe degeneration in Alzheimer's disease?
Which brain region degenerates in Parkinson's disease, leading to dopamine deficiency?
Which type of stroke is caused by a blocked blood vessel?
What is epilepsy?
Which cell type is primarily damaged in multiple sclerosis?
What genetic mutation causes Huntington's disease?
What is an aura in migraine?
Which protein forms neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease?
Which is a cardinal motor symptom of Parkinson's disease?
Damage to which brain region typically results in expressive aphasia?
Which brain region is a common site of seizure onset in temporal lobe epilepsy?
What is the primary pathological process in multiple sclerosis?
Degeneration of which nucleus in the basal ganglia is most prominent in Huntington's disease?
Which phase of migraine is characterized by throbbing head pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound?
What is the 'ischemic penumbra' in stroke?
0 of 15 answered · 0 correct
Cheat sheet: key terms
| Alzheimer's disease | Progressive neurodegeneration causing memory loss; associated with amyloid plaques and tau tangles. |
|---|---|
| Parkinson's disease | Loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra; motor symptoms include tremor and bradykinesia. |
| Stroke | Interruption of blood flow to the brain; ischemic (blockage) or hemorrhagic (bleeding). |
| Epilepsy | Recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical activity; can be focal or generalized. |
| Multiple sclerosis | Autoimmune demyelination of CNS neurons; leads to neurological deficits. |
| Huntington's disease | Autosomal dominant CAG repeat expansion; causes involuntary movements and cognitive decline. |
| Migraine | Recurrent headache disorder with phases including prodrome, aura, headache, and postdrome. |
Answers explained
Show all 15 answers
- Which brain region shows the earliest and most severe degeneration in Alzheimer's disease? Hippocampus. The hippocampus is critical for forming new memories, and its degeneration leads to the hallmark memory loss of Alzheimer's.
- Which brain region degenerates in Parkinson's disease, leading to dopamine deficiency? Substantia nigra. Dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta die, causing the motor symptoms of Parkinson's.
- Which type of stroke is caused by a blocked blood vessel? Ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes account for about 87% of all strokes and result from occlusion of an artery.
- What is epilepsy? Recurrent unprovoked seizures. Epilepsy is defined by two or more unprovoked seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
- Which cell type is primarily damaged in multiple sclerosis? Oligodendrocytes. Oligodendrocytes produce myelin in the central nervous system; their destruction leads to demyelination and neurological deficits.
- What genetic mutation causes Huntington's disease? CAG repeat in HTT gene. Huntington's is caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene on chromosome 4, leading to a toxic protein.
- What is an aura in migraine? Reversible neurological symptoms before headache. Aura affects about 25% of migraine sufferers and often includes visual disturbances like flashing lights or blind spots.
- Which protein forms neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease? Tau protein. Hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates inside neurons as tangles, while beta-amyloid forms extracellular plaques.
- Which is a cardinal motor symptom of Parkinson's disease? Resting tremor. Resting tremor, along with rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability, characterizes Parkinson's.
- Damage to which brain region typically results in expressive aphasia? Broca's area. Broca's area in the frontal lobe controls speech production; damage causes difficulty forming words while comprehension remains intact.
- Which brain region is a common site of seizure onset in temporal lobe epilepsy? Hippocampus. The hippocampus is highly epileptogenic due to its excitatory circuitry; mesial temporal sclerosis is a common finding.
- What is the primary pathological process in multiple sclerosis? Demyelination of CNS axons. The immune system attacks myelin sheaths, disrupting saltatory conduction and causing varied neurological symptoms.
- Degeneration of which nucleus in the basal ganglia is most prominent in Huntington's disease? Caudate nucleus. The caudate and putamen (striatum) degenerate early, leading to chorea and cognitive decline.
- Which phase of migraine is characterized by throbbing head pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound? Headache phase. The headache phase typically lasts 4-72 hours and is caused by activation of the trigeminovascular system.
- What is the 'ischemic penumbra' in stroke? At-risk but salvageable tissue. The penumbra is hypoperfused but not yet dead; timely reperfusion can save it, reducing disability.
See it in 3D: open the interactive brain and click any region, or ask the AI coach anything you missed.