Patho 2 - Module 14

Neurological Disorders Overview

• Bradykinesia: difficulty in walking, freezing, small shuffling steps, impaired mobility, stiff facial features, rigidity, and risk for aspiration
• Parkinson's disease: diagnosed based on history, physical examination, and response to dopamine replacement, with symptoms including autonomic nervous system issues, orthostatic hypotension, constipation, urine retention, speech impairment, and cognitive dysfunction
• Treatment for Parkinson's: goal to restore neurotransmitter balance, reduce rigidity, and improve mobility through medications, deep brain stimulation, and levodopa-carbidopa gel infusion
• Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease: associated with family history, multiple sclerosis, and degeneration of myelin sheath
• Multiple Sclerosis: autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, causing myelin breakdown, and leading to symptoms such as paresthesias, visual impairments, and motor weakness
• Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis: based on history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests including MRI, visual evoked potential, and spinal tap
• ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease): results in loss of motor function due to damaged motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and respiratory failure
• ALS Treatment: aims to preserve nerve function and reduce flare-ups through immunosuppression therapy
• Radicava: drug therapy used to control excessive oxidative stress in ALS patients
• Huntington's Disease: autosomal dominant disorder causing degeneration of basal ganglia, leading to random jerky movements, dementia, and complications such as pneumonia and falls
• Multiple Sclerosis: an autoimmune disease causing destruction of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system, leading to disturbances in nerve transmission
• Parkinson's Disease: characterized by dopamine deficiency, leading to muscle rigidity, bradykinesia, and resting tremors