Which neurodegenerative disorder is associated with glial cytoplasmic inclusions and does not improve with levodopa?

Prepare for the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question includes insights and explanations to help you excel. Get ready for your certification journey!

Multiple Choice

Which neurodegenerative disorder is associated with glial cytoplasmic inclusions and does not improve with levodopa?

Glial cytoplasmic inclusions are a hallmark of multiple system atrophy, formed by misfolded alpha-synuclein within oligodendrocytes. This pattern distinguishes MSA from other parkinsonian disorders and explains why levodopa helps less. In MSA, patients often have parkinsonism but respond poorly to levodopa, and they frequently exhibit autonomic dysfunction and cerebellar signs. In contrast, Parkinson disease typically features neuronal Lewy bodies and generally shows at least some responsiveness to levodopa. The other conditions listed do not feature glial cytoplasmic inclusions or the characteristic poor levodopa response associated with MSA.

Glial cytoplasmic inclusions are a hallmark of multiple system atrophy, formed by misfolded alpha-synuclein within oligodendrocytes. This pattern distinguishes MSA from other parkinsonian disorders and explains why levodopa helps less. In MSA, patients often have parkinsonism but respond poorly to levodopa, and they frequently exhibit autonomic dysfunction and cerebellar signs. In contrast, Parkinson disease typically features neuronal Lewy bodies and generally shows at least some responsiveness to levodopa. The other conditions listed do not feature glial cytoplasmic inclusions or the characteristic poor levodopa response associated with MSA.

More practice questions