B1 W3 Tutorial - clinical case of Parkinson's and the basal ganglia

what happens to the individual at rest and when he tries to walk?

dyskinesia (abnormal movements), rigidity, slow shuffle, tremor

which neurotransmitter system is affected by Parkinson’s?

nigro-striatal pathway degenerates, leading to a depletion of striatal dopamine

part of the brain involved in Parkinson’s disease

substantia nigra pars compacta, thalamus, striatum (caudate and putamen), globus pallidus, subthalamic nuclei

Lewy body

abnormality in proteins within a neuron, can show up in dementia

hemiballismus

involves movement on one side (hemichorea), impacts subthalamic nucleus and the globus pallidus sometimes together

dopamine is used in other brain systems, such as the Reward System (mesolimbic pathway)

loss of inhibition in this system can lead to compulsive gambling, risk seeking behavior, suicide

mesocortical pathway

also uses dopamine, supporting executive function like attention and planning

deep brain stimulation

provides electrical stimulation to the STN or GPi directly; improvement on slowness, complete elimination of tremors, improved facial expressiveness

L-DOPA

enters the brain and converted into dopamine, can start delivering severe side effects after 5-10 years like dyskinetic movements/psychoticism; dopamine agonists used instead for younger people