CHP. 1 Diseases (intro to neuroscience)

Describe Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive, fatal degenerative brain disease leading to dementia and memory loss. Characterized by amyloid plaques and tau angles, neuron loss, brain shrinkage, and sensory/cognitive deficits

Describe Autism

An early childhood developmental disorder causing impairments in communication and social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive behaviors. Involves altered neural connectivity (hypo- and hyper-connectivity), synaptic formation, and neurotransmitter changes

Describe Cerebral Palsy

A motor disorder caused by damage to the cerebrum before, during, or shortly after childbirth, leading to difficulty in movement and posture. Associated with spasticity (cerebral cortex damage), dyskinesia (basal ganglia damage), and ataxia (cerebellum damage)

Describe Bell’s Palsy

Sudden, temporary paralysis of one side of the face caused by cranial nerve (facial nerve) dysfunction. Often triggered by viral inflammation compressing the nerve, causing mouth drooping and inability to close the eyelid.

Describe Depression

A serious mood disorder affecting mood regulation, sleep, appetite, and memory. Characterized by hyper- or hypo- activity in circuits involving the amygdala, hippocampus, and cortex, with reduced neuroplasticity and imbalance in serotonin, glutamate, and GABA

Describe Epilepsy

Periodic disturbances of brain electrical activity causing seizures. Resulting from abnormal, excessive electrical firing among neurons and neurotransmitter imbalances (glutamate v. GABA)

Describe Multiple Sclerosis

A progressive neurodegenerative disease where the immune system attacks myelin sheath and neurons in the CNS, impairing nerve conduction and causing weakness, lack of coordination, and speech disturbances

Describe Parkinson’s Disease

A progressive motor disorder leading to difficulty initiating voluntary movement, tremors, rigidity, and slowness. Caused by the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra. basal ganglia

Describe Schizophrenia

A severe psychotic illness characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and flat affect. Involves prefrontal cortex and temporal lobe circuit disruption, excessive synaptic pruning, and dopamine/glutamate imbalances.

Describe Spinal Paralysis

Loss of sensation and motor function caused by traumatic injury/damage to the spinal cord.

Describe Stroke

Loss of brain function caused by a disruption of blood supply (e.g. blood clot), leading to permanent or temporary sensory, motor, or cognitive deficits.