Which of the following nervous system disorders are incorrectly paired with

their underlying pathophysiological mechanism?

A) Schizophrenia: abnormal decrease in norepinephrine production in the brain

B) Depression: abnormal decrease in serotonin availability in the brain

C) Alzheimer’s disease: abnormal increase in β-amyloid plaques in the brain

D) Parkinson’s disease: abnormal loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain

Click to reveal answer

Answer A is correct

While the underlying pathophysiology of many nervous system disorders is still to

be discovered, there are several for which we have a clear understanding of why

and how they occur.

Schizophrenia is a nervous system disorder characterized by a pervasive difficulty

with daily functioning and can include symptoms such as hallucinations and

delusions. It is characterized as one of the psychotic disorders due to the abnormal

perception of reality that it produces in those who suffer from it. The mechanism

of schizophrenia is not completely elucidated, however it is thought to be

related to the neurotransmitters dopamine, acetylcholine, glutamate, and others.

Norepinephrine is not necessarily thought to be the predominant neurotransmitter

involved in schizophrenia, which is why Answer A is the correct choice here.

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Day 132 MCAT Practice Question