PTA 241 degenerative and infectious disorders of CNS

positive Kernig's sign

Pain elicited with hip flexion and knee extension while in supine position

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain tissue itself

Brudzinski's sign

Passive neck flexion while in a supine position elicits simultaneous hip and knee flexion.

Epstein-Barr

pathogen likely to cause viral meningitis

grey matter

structures MOST affected by encephalitis

amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles

primary pathological hallmark found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem affected

Increased initiative

Which of the following is NOT a warning sign of Alzheimer's disease?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

is also named Lou Gehrig's disease

involuntary choreiform movements

MOST characteristic of Huntington's disease and helps distinguish it from Alzheimer's disease and amoytrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

progressive UMN and LMN disease

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

most physically devastating of neuro diseases

white males mid to late 50s

who gets ALS more often

visual attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility, problem solving, visuoperceptual skills

ALS cognitive deficits can effect (5)

distal, contiguous

ALS asymmetric weakness starts are ____ aspect of one limb, progressing to the weakness of the ____ muscles

extensor muscles become weaker than flexor muscles

ALS asymmetric weakness

3-5 years after onset

death from ALS occurs (not cause)

aspiration pneumonia, respiratory compromise

2 causes death from ALS

ALS

clinical manifestations:

muscle weakness

respiratory impairments

cognitive impairments

PBA

fatigue

pain

sensory symptoms

paresthesia

most common sensory symptom from ALS

EMG

How is ALS diagnosed?

Alzheimer's dementia

Alzheimer's disease results in

dementia

decline in intellectual functioning severe enough to interfere with a person's relationships and ability to perform daily activities

alzheimer's disease

primary risk factors include: age, family history, genetic markers

head injury, lower thyroid-stimulating hormone level

possible risk factors of alzheimer's (2)

alzheimer's disease

clinical manifestations:

persistent mild memory loss

visuospatial deficits

drawing is abnormal

personality changes

egocentricity

impulsivity

irritability

withdrawn

anxious

5 personality changes due to alzheimer's

occur 7-11 years after onset

death in alzheimer's

1. Recent memory loss that affects job performance.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks.

3. Problems with simple language:

4. Disorientation

5. Decreased judgment;

6. Abstract thinking difficulties,

7. Misplacing things, such as putting iron in the freezer

8. Changes in mood or behavior: getting angry easily and crying often.

9.Personality changes:

10.Loss of initiative:

10n warning signs of alzheimer's