Chapter 1.A

What is frontotemporal dementia (FTD)?

group of brain disorders caused by progressive nerve cell loss in the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain

What are some key characteristics of frontotemporal dementia?

• early onset

• personality and behavior changes

• language deficits

What are the two subtypes of FTD?

• behavioral (bvFTD)

• language [aka, primary progressive aphasia (PPA)]

What is Pick’s Disease?

rare degenerative disease marked by abnormal protein deposits (Pick bodt Tau protein) in frontal and temporal lobes

Is Pick’s disease considered a subtype of FTD?

yes

What are some clinical signs of Pick’s disease?

social inappropriateness; impulsivity; non-fluent language

What does ALS stand for?

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

What is ALS?

a progressive neurological disease causing degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons

What is the cause of ALS?

unknown

What are some symptoms of ALS?

muscle weakness, spasticity, fasciculations, dysarthria, dysphagia

Is cognition preserved in patients with ALS?

yes

How fast is the decline of ALS after diagnosis?

2-5 years

What is huntington’s disease?

inherited degenerative brain disease appearing in mid-30s

What are the symptoms of huntington’s disease?

chorea(involuntary movements), dementia, psychiatric changes

Where are the lesions in huntington’s disease?

basal ganglia

What is Parkinson’s?

degenerative disorder affecting basal ganglia dopamine production

What are some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?

tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, reduced vocal loudness (hypophonia)

What is the role of the SLP in treating Parkinson’s?

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), respiratory-voice support

What is cerebral palsy?

a broad term for developmental motor disorders due to early brain damage (before, during, or just after birth)

What are some causes of cerebral palsy?

• abnormal fetal brain development

• prenatal infections

• placental abnormalities

• genetic factors

What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?

varying muscle tone, coordination issues, possible cognitive and communication impairments

What is the meaning of perinatal?

the time immediately before and after birth

What is the meaning of postnatal?

the time after birth

What are some perinatal factors that can contribute to CP?

difficult labor, prematurity, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)

What are some postnatal factors that can contribute to CP?

neonatal intracranial hemorrhage, severe jaundice, and brain infections (meningitis, ecephalitis)

What is meningitis?

infection fot eh meninges by bacteria or viruses?

What are some symptoms of meningitis?

fever, stiff neck, altered mental state, long-term cognitive effects