Term
What is characteristic of multiple sclerosis? |
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Definition
Demylenation of central neurons |
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Term
Which are the first regions to be affected? Why? |
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Definition
Ventricles, brain stem, optic nerve; these areas have a lot of neural activity so they are affected first |
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Term
What is the cause of demylenation of these neurons? |
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Definition
Inflammation causes myelin to be replaced with scar tissue (plaques) |
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Term
(T/F) MS is characterized by remissions and exacerbations |
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Definition
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Term
Which sex is more vulnerable, and at what age are most people affected? |
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Definition
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Term
Individuals in a ___________ climate are more susceptible to MS. Why might this be? |
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Definition
Temperate; possibly because of a VetD deficiency |
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Term
What are the signs of MS? |
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Definition
- blurred vision - diplopia - scotoma (spot on visual field) - paresthesias, fatigue - progressive muscle weakness - bladder, bowel dysfunction |
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Term
What two things contribute to MS diagnosis? |
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Definition
1. MRI 2. CSF with proteins of lymphocytes |
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Term
What are the 5 treatments for MS? |
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Definition
1. Interferon 2. Monoclonal AB's 3. Steroids 4. Avoid exertion 5. Medical MJ |
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Term
What is Parkinson's disease? |
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Definition
Disease of the basal nuclei in the brain |
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Term
What does this disease cause? |
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Definition
Dopamine deficiency, and thus, imbalance between ACh and dopamine |
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Term
Which motor system is affected by Parkinsons? |
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Definition
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Term
What are the signs of Parkinsons? |
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Definition
- resting tremor - rigidity, bradykinesia (slower movements) - difficulty swallowing, initiating motion - shuffling gait - stooped posture |
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Term
What two things appear at the later stages of parkinsons? |
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Definition
- Orthostatic hypertension - Dementia |
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Term
How is Huntington's disease inherited? At what age is its onset seen? |
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Definition
Autosomal dominant; 35-50 years |
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Term
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Definition
Depletion of GABA in the basal ganglia |
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Term
What does this this depletion lead to? |
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Definition
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Term
List the consequences of brain atrophy |
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Definition
- Choreiform movements - Mood swings, poor judgement, memory lapses (due to atrophy of different parts of the brain) |
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Term
What is another name for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) |
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Definition
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Term
What occurs in ALS? Are there any apparent causes? |
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Definition
Degeneration of the lateral corticospinal tracts. - No apparent nerve inflammation |
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Term
(T/F) ALS also has sensory, autonomic and/or cognitive involvements as well |
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Definition
False, disturbances seem to ONLY be in the motor dracts |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
What are 2 signs of ALS? What does it progress to? |
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Definition
- Muscular atrophy - Dysarthia (because of CN nerve involvement) - Progresses to respiratory failure |
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Term
What percentage of ALS patients exhibit the superoxide dismutase mutation? |
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Definition
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Term
What are the 2 leading causes of dementia? |
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Definition
1. Alzheimers 2. Vascular injury |
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Term
What are the signs/symptoms of dementia? |
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Definition
- cortical function loss - language difficulty, innumeracy - loss of motor co-ordination - short-term memory loss; confusion about long term events - personality changes |
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Term
(T/F) The forgetting seen in dementia is the same as when someone normally forgets a fact |
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Definition
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Term
How does forgetfulness differ with dementia? |
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Definition
Patients cannot remember even if clues are present |
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Term
(T/F) Computational ability is lost with dementia patients |
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Definition
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Term
(T/F) The cause of Alzheimers is known |
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Definition
False, but genetic factors are present |
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Term
List two contributing factors to Alz |
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Definition
- Cortical atrophy - Beta amyloid plaques |
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Term
What can cause cortical atrophy? |
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Definition
- Dilated ventricles - Widened sulci |
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Term
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Definition
Clusters of degenerating nerve terminals around an amyloid core - neurofibrillary tangles |
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Term
(T/F) Tau protein presence means that the patient must have Alz always indicative of |
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Definition
False, it depends on the area of the brain that the tau protein forms |
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Term
(T/F) The sensory cortex is spared in Alz |
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Definition
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Term
What results from the cortical and nervous degeneration in Alz? |
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Definition
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Term
Describe the early, progressing and late stages of Alzheimers |
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Definition
Early: getting lost easily, loss of sense of humour, social withdrawal Progressing:confusion in familiar places, difficulty with daily tasks, language problems Late:motor problems, incontinence, no awareness of surroundings |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
What is the average survival period for a patient with Alz? |
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Definition
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Term
List two common mental disorders |
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Definition
1. Schizophrenia 2. Depression |
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Term
(T/F) Schiz is a spectrum of disorders |
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Definition
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Term
(T/F) Shiz patient usually exhibit multiple personalities |
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Definition
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Term
(T/F) Schiz does not usually display concordance in twins |
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Definition
False, usually both twins will have the disorder |
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Term
What two abnormalities are seen in Schiz patients? |
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Definition
1. Enlarged 3rd/4th ventricles 3. Decreased bloodflow to frontal lobes |
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Term
List the positive symptoms of Schiz |
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Definition
Delusions, bizarre behaviour, incoherence, hallucinations (esp auditory) |
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Term
List the negative symptoms of Schiz |
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Definition
flat, apathetic, anhedonic, withdraw socially |
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Term
What substance usually has increased levels in Schizo patients? What is used to overcome this? |
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Definition
Dopamine; D1 receptor antagonists |
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Term
(T/F) SSRI's are also given to Schiz patients |
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Definition
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Term
What is the rationale behind this? |
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Definition
LSD (5HT receptor antagonist) mimicks the symptoms of Schiz |
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Term
Why is it thought that there may be an NMDA receptor disorder? |
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Definition
Because PCP, which is an NMDA blocker, exhibits similar behaviours as well |
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Term
(T/F) Depression is a thought disorder |
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Definition
False, it is a mood disorder |
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Term
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Definition
1. Unipolar 2. Bipolar 3. Reactive |
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Term
What characterizes bipolar disorder? |
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Definition
Mood swings between depression and manic episodes |
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Term
What two things can cause reactive depression? |
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Definition
- A life event - Depression that comes along with a major disease |
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Term
(T/F) There is a genetic component to depression |
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Definition
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Term
List characteristics of depression |
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Definition
- Sleep disorders - Lack of energy that interferes with daily life |
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Term
What are two chemical abnormalities seen with depression? |
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Definition
- Decreased NE - Decreased serotonin |
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Term
What are the treatments for depression? |
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Definition
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- SSRI's
- NE reuptake inhibitors
- ETC
- MAO inhibitors |
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Term
Why do MAO inhibitors work? |
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Definition
Monoamineoxidase is the enzyme that breaks down Epi/NE, and so inhibiting it increases levels of these substances |
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