Purdue BEI
Who is the faculty sponsor for our club?
Dr. Suter
What is the most common symptom of Alzheimer’s, often appearing early in the disease?
Memory loss
How much does the brain weigh?
3 pounds
The electrical signal that neurons generate
Action potential
How many shifts do we have in total?
32 shifts
What part of the brain, responsible for memory formation, is often one of the first areas affected by Alzheimer’s?
The hippocampus
How many neurons are in the brain?
86 billion
Structure that allows neurons to communicate
Synapse
What are the names of every nursing home we volunteer at?
Rosewalk, Aster Place, Five Star, WLAL, St. Mary, The Springs, Westminster, Digby Place, Cumberland, Glasswater, Creasy Springs
Individuals with Alzheimer’s may struggle to recall common words or call objects by the wrong name, a symptom known as ______.
Aphasia
Which part of the brain controls rational and logical decision-making?
Pre-frontal cortex
What is the the primary function of myelin sheaths?
Increases the speed of action potentials
120! Highest in BEI history!!
What type of brain scan is often used in Alzheimer’s research? It can detect abnormal amyloid plaques.
PET scan
What type of function does the basal ganglia coordinate?
Movement
Action potentials trigger the release of which ion inside synapses?
Calcium
Emily, Stephanie, Gabby, Alexis, Karthik, Mia, Christine & Keerthana.
People with Alzheimer’s may experience rapid mood swings, depression, or aggression due to changes in what part of the brain?
The limbic system (or emotional regulation center)
The corpus callosum is a massive bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres. What is the specific name of the group of fibers that primarily connect the frontal lobes across the midline, and what is the well-known medical condition that results from a surgical severance of the corpus callosum?
Forceps minor
What specific type of glial cell in the peripheral nervous system forms the myelin sheath around axons, and how does it differ from its counterpart in the central nervous system?
Schwann cells, which form myelin in the PNS, whereas the Oligodendrocytes form myelin in the CNS.