Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Vocabulary flashcards covering the pathology, risk factors, symptomatology, and treatments of six major neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions: Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, major depressive disorder, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder, and ADHD.

Parkinson's Disease

A progressive disorder of the nervous system characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in tremors, rigidity, slow or uncontrolled movements, and slurred speech.

Substantia Nigra

A basal ganglia structure containing dopaminergic neurons whose degeneration is the hallmark neuropathology of Parkinson's disease.

Levodopa

A metabolic precursor that crosses the blood-brain barrier and converts into dopamine in the brain, used clinically to attenuate motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)

A neurotoxin used in animal research to create selective lesions of dopamine neurons, reproducing the dopamine depletion and behavioral deficits characteristic of Parkinson's disease.

Alzheimer's Disease

The most common form of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases, characterized pathologically by beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

Beta-Amyloid Plaques

Extracellular deposits of beta-amyloid protein fragments that accumulate in the spaces between neurons in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Tau Tangles

Twisted, intracellular neurofibrillary fibers composed of abnormal tau protein that disrupt the transport of essential nutrients along axonal microtubules.

APOE-e4 (Apolipoprotein E-e4)

A genetic risk gene that elevates an individual's susceptibility to developing Alzheimer's disease without directly guaranteeing the disorder will manifest.

Deterministic Genes (Alzheimer's)

Rare genetic mutations—including amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin-1 (PS-1)—that directly cause autosomal dominant or familial Alzheimer's disease in fewer than 5 percent of cases.

U.S. POINTER

The U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk; a clinical trial evaluating multi-domain lifestyle interventions spanning physical exercise, health monitoring, nutrition, and cognitive exercise.

MIND Diet

Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay; a dietary pattern emphasizing leafy greens, berries, nuts, whole grains, fish, and olive oil while limiting sugar and saturated fats to reduce dementia risk.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A psychiatric mood disorder marked by persistent low mood, hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia), and disruptions in sleep, energy, and appetite.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

A class of antidepressant medications that increase synaptic serotonin availability by preventing its reuptake into presynaptic neurons.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

A central nervous system autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammatory demyelination, white matter plaques, and progressive axonal degeneration that disrupts electrical conduction.

Paresthesia

An abnormal neurological sensation of tingling, numbness, or burning in the limbs, frequently presenting as an early symptom of Multiple Sclerosis.

Gliosis

A reactive proliferation of glial cells leading to scarring in the central nervous system following chronic axonal injury and myelin breakdown in Multiple Sclerosis.

VLA-4 Monoclonal Antibody

An immunotherapy agent used in Multiple Sclerosis that binds the VLA-4 adhesion molecule to block damaging immune cells from crossing the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder typically diagnosed in early childhood, characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A chronic neurodevelopmental condition characterized by pervasive patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that diverge significantly in frequency and duration from typical childhood behavior.

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) Hypoactivity (in ADHD)

A proposed neural mechanism for ADHD characterized by reduced dopaminergic and noradrenergic input from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and locus ceruleus to the prefrontal cortex.

Locus Ceruleus

A brainstem nucleus that synthesizes norepinephrine and projects diffusely to regions including the prefrontal cortex, serving key roles in attention, arousal, and cognitive control.