A+P: 4.5-Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System

Types of Nervous Diseases:

  • Parkinsons
  • Ahlzeimer’s
  • Epilepsy
  • Concussions
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome
  • Cerebrovascular Accident
  • Bacterial meningitis

[Parkinson’s Disease]():

  • Cause- The midbrain doesn’t produce enough neurotransmitters which means that there is not enough neurotransmitters to trigger action potentials.
  • Symptoms- Stiffness, Slowness, Slurred Speech, Inhibition of movement; Basically, difficulty in movement.
  • Treatment- Taking agonists and replacement neurotransmitters + medicine that makes receptors more receptive + Medicine that keeps neurotransmitters from breaking down.

Alzheimer’s:

  • Cause- Progressive atrophy of brain accompanied by old age.
  • Symptoms- Loss of speech, memory loss, disturbed sleep, impulsive behavior, mood swings, repeating conversations.
  • Progressions-
    • Stage 1: No symptoms but you can see the atrophying brain.
    • Stage 2: Memory lapses, and trouble making decisions.
    • Stage 3: Personality changes, getting lost, and difficulty expressing ideas.
    • Stage 4: More personality changes, poor judgement, need assistance
    • Stage 5: Inability to communicate, daily assistance, lack of physical ability.
  • Treatment-
    • Excercise
    • Neurotransmitter replacements.
    • Loved ones photos for memory jog
    • Hobbies for routine.
    • Create and follow routine

Epilepsy:

  • Cause- The brain’s electrical activity malfunctions and a person has a seizure. This is triggered.
  • Symptoms- Unprovoked seizures.
  • Treatment- To stop the misfiring, give the signal another path, or stop the trigger, medicine is given. This changes the way ==neurotransmitters move between neurons== and makes it easier or harder for ions to cross the axon terminals or the dendrites.

Concussions:

  • Cause- Severe physical blows to the soft brain tissue. It can move the brain or directly injury it.
  • Symptoms- Depends on Severity:
    • Grade 1: Hit on head but no unconsciousness, Dizziness, nausea, unsevere memory loss, trouble focusing, headaches.
    • Grade 2: Brief Unconciousness, Irritability, ringing, and amnesia.
    • Grade 3: Multiple head injuries and complete unconsciousness, vomiting, seeing stars, severe amnesia, difficulty speaking.
  • Treatment-
    • Grade 1: Sleep and rest, pain relievers, 2-3 week recovery.
    • Grade2: Physical and mental rest, pain relievers, few months to recover.
    • Grade 3: Physical and mental rest, pain relievers, and potential therapy and hospital stay. Months or year to recover.

Cerebral Palsy:

  • Cause- Appears in children and adults due to damage during brain development.
  • Symptoms- Strange Movement, posture, affects intellectual ability, speech, and vision
  • Treatment- Therapy, braces, and medicine
  • Prognosis: No cure; Not progressive but symptoms do change; Treatment + Assistance -→ normal lives

Multiple Sclerosis:

  • Cause- Autoimmune disease that attacks myelin sheath in CNS.
  • Symptoms- Numbness, tremors, shock sensations, blurred or double vision.
  • Treatment- Therapy, braces, and medicine
  • Prognosis: No cure; Not progressive but symptoms do change; Treatment + Assistance -→ normal lives

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS):

  • Cause- Motor neurons begin to die; This is progressive and fatal; Usually begins by 40 years old.
  • Symptoms- Muscle Weakness and cramping, Clumsiness and twitching, trouble swallowing, behavioral and cognitive changes. Basically, everything muscles.
  • Treatment- Medicine to slow progression & alleviate discomfort; therapy
  • Prognosis- No Cure; Death in the end.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome:

  • Cause- Autoimmune diseases → Viral or bacterial infection
  • Symptoms- Tingling in extremities that spread in ward and upward. Weakness in legs. Aching pain. Loss of bladder control. Blood pressure and heart rate changes. Breathing difficulty. Paralysis
  • Treatment- Therapy, Medication for pain, antibody donations.
  • Prognosis- 80% of adults survive.

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA):

  • Cause- A clot impedes the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain cells gets blocked.
  • Symptoms- Trouble speaking; paralysis of face, arm, or leg; blurred vision and dizziness; headache.
  • Treatment- Medication to break the clot and change blood pressure; surgery to remove plaque build up; therapy based on functions that were gone because of the clot.

Bacterial Meningitis:

  • Cause- Bacteria within the meninges.
  • Symptoms- Fever, stiff neck, vomiting, rash and bruising, sleepy, sensitive to light.
  • Treatment- Antibiotic, IV fluid, steroids.
  • Prognosis- Curable but can have life-long effects and can be fatal.