A 72-Year-Old, Previously Healthy Man Is Brought to the Office

question 57

Multiple Choice

A 72-year-old, previously healthy man is brought to the office by his wife due to unusual movements and behavior during sleep that have occurred with increasing frequency over the past 3 months.  She says, "Lately, he's been waking me up in the middle of the night, moaning and thrashing around like he's having a bad dream.  Sometimes, he becomes so violent in his sleep that he'll kick and punch me.  I can easily wake him up, but he's often confused for a few seconds.  Then he usually describes a dream in which he was defending himself from an attack."  Physical examination is unremarkable.  Neurodegeneration due to accumulation of which of the following is the most likely etiology of this patient's condition?

• A)Alpha-synuclein
• B)Amyloid beta peptide
• C)Prion proteins
• D)Tau proteins
• E)TAR DNA-binding protein-43

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Definitions:

Childbirth

The process of giving birth to a baby, marking the end of pregnancy and involving labor and delivery.

Green Revolution

A period of significant increase in agricultural productivity resulting from the introduction of high-yield varieties of crops, use of pesticides, and improved management techniques.

Inorganic Fertilizers

Mineral-based compounds applied to soil to supply nutrients required for plant growth, as opposed to organic fertilizers derived from living organisms.

Plantation Agriculture

A form of commercial farming where crops are grown for profit. It typically involves large-scale operations and focuses on a few high-demand cash crops like sugar, cotton, and tea.