Tumors, Seizures, Strokes, and Alzheimer's

Tumors rise from:

cells in the brain or somewhere else in the body

When tumor pushes against surrounding tissue

compression

Tumors rise from:

cells in the brain or somewhere else in the body

When tumor pushes against surrounding tissue

compression

A _________ tumor is dangerous because it is malignant (cancerous) and fast growing

glioma

Non-cancerous tumor that grows between brain and it’s protective cover (meaning encapsulated)

meningioma

________ is when tumor wraps around healthy tissue

infiltration

Common methods to remove tumors

1) radiation

2) surgical removal

Seizures are caused by excessive activity of cerebral ______ and cause convulsions

neurons

Partial vs. Generalized seizures

partial- have specific source of irritation ex: lesions in particular brain structure

generalized- activity in most of the brain (causes grand mal seizures)

How are complex seizures different from simple seizures?

complex seizures lead to loss of consciousness

Most severe seizure usually accompanied by convulsions

tonic-clonic aka grand mal

Phase of seizure when all muscles contract forcefully

tonic phase

Phase when muscles tremble and start jerking convulsively

clonic phase

Partial seizures can effect the following parts of the brain:

occipital

parietal

temporal

Children are especially susceptible to seizure disorders . They will stop and stare, blink repeatedly, then snap back to reality. T or F

True

As the seizure starts and travels down the primary motor cortex, more parts of the body become involved. T or F

true

Location of most brain damage from seizures, where NDMA receptors are located (role in calcium influx)

hippocampus

Main causes of seizures:

1) Scarring from injury, stroke, or tumor

2) High fever from drugs or infections

3) Withdrawal from alcohol or barbituates

4) Genetics —deficits in control of ion channels

Seizures can be treated with _________ drugs or a keto diet

anticonvulsant drugs

What would be the cause of hemorrhagic stroke?

Bleeding in the brain

Main causes of objective (Ischemic) stroke that prevent blood flow

thrombi (blood clot in blood vessels) or emboli (arterial plaques)

After effects of stroke

speech issues, face drooping, one side of body dysfunction

Method to reduce brain damage and blood clot. *Needs to be administered within 3 hours of stroke onset

tPA (tissue plasminogen activator)

Atherosclerosis is the process where linings of arteries build ______

plaque

Where do Atherosclerotic plaques form?

in internal carotid artery

A narrowed artery can be seen in an __________

angiogram

________ are use to widen the artery

stents

Degenerative brain disorder that results in loss of cognitive ability such as memory, perception, verbal ability, and judgment

dementia

Dementia produces severe degeneration of the entorhinal cortex, neo cortex, and ___________

hippocampus

Hostility is a common symptom of dementia because it effects the ________ _______, where serotonin is produced

raphe nuclei

Protein found in excessive amounts in brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease

B-amyloid (turns into amyloid plaque in brain)

Amyloid plaques destroy what parts of the neuron?

axon and dendrites; therefore cuts communication

Phagocytic _____ cells also destroy the axon and dendrites

glial

This (intracellular) aggregate identifies Alzheimer’s

Neurofibrillary tangle

What does a neurofibrillary tangle consist of?

Dying neuron containing intracellular accumulations of twisted protein filaments

What kind of protein is the twisted protein in the Neuro. Tangle?

Tau protein—normally serves as component of microtubules

How is beta-amyloid created?

1) Gene encodes production of B-amyloid precursor protein (APP)

2) APP is cut by secretase enzymes in 2 parts (B-sec. cuts tail off and Y-sec. cuts head off)

3) This produces either 40 or 42 amino acid AB

Long form amino acid AB ______ and form aggregates, and eventually causes AD

misfolds

2nd cause of Alzheimer’s; what allele disrupts ability to remove beta-amyloid protein?

mutation of ApoE (apolipoprotein)

E4

Factors correlated with Alzheimer’s

obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, level of education