A 70-year-old man is accompanied by his wife to the primary care clinic for hand tremors. He states that he first noticed the tremor of his left hand 1 year ago. Since then, the tremor has been worsening and now he can hardly relax when trying to read. His wife says that she is also worried about his memory. She had to take over the finances several weeks ago after learning that he had forgotten to pay the bills for the past few months. The patient’s medical history is significant for hypertension. He takes aspirin and amlodipine. His mother had schizophrenia. The patient drinks 1-2 beers a night and is a former cigar smoker. On physical examination, he speaks softly and has reduced facial expressions. He has a resting tremor that is worse on the left, and he resists manipulation of his bilateral upper extremities. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
ADementia with Lewy bodies
BParkinson disease
CEssential tremor
DProgressive supranuclear palsy
ETardive dyskinesia
A 70-year-old woman is brought to the office after her nurse noticed her being apathetic, easily distracted, and starting to urinate in bed. Her medical history is relevant for hypertension, under control with medication. Physical examination reveals a blood pressure of 138/76 mm Hg, a heart rate of 70/min, and a respiratory rate 14/min and regular. On neurological examination, she has a broad-based shuffling gait, and increased muscle tone in her limbs that is reduced by distracting the patient. There is decreased coordination with exaggerated deep tendon reflexes, decreased attention and concentration, and postural tremor. Which of the following additional features would be expected to find in this patient?
ADegeneration of the substantia nigra pars compacta
BCaudate head atrophy
CAccumulation of Lewy bodies in cortical cells
DDilation of the ventricular system
EAccumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the cerebral cortex
A 71-year-old man presents to his primary care physician because he is increasingly troubled by a tremor in his hands. He says that the tremor is worse when he is resting and gets better when he reaches for objects. His wife reports that he has been slowing in his movements and also has difficulty starting to walk. His steps have been short and unsteady even when he is able to initiate movement. Physical exam reveals rigidity in his muscles when tested for active range of motion. Histology in this patient would most likely reveal which of the following findings?
AIntracellular hyperphosphorylated tau
BLarge intracellular vacuoles
CAmyloid beta plaques
DPerivascular inflammation
EAlpha-synuclein
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