6C - Contemporary research into neurological disorders

Question 1

Neurological disorder

Answer 1

-Affects Brain, spinal cord and nerves
->600 disorders
-Acquired/congenital
-Long lasting
- Wide range of sx
-Impact mental wellbeing

Question 2

Examples of neurological disorders

Answer 2

Dementia
cerebral palsy
meningitis
MND
Migraines
Narcolepsy
Epilepsy
MS
Parkinsons

Question 3

CTE (1940)

Answer 3

=Neurodegenerative disease- incurable
-Linked to repeated impact to the head
-Sports, military, Domestic violence, self-inflicted
Dr Harrison Martland 1928 “punch drunk syndrome”
Diagnosed at Autopsy

Question 4

CTE

Answer 4

Gradual, progressive and wide-spread
Tau protein buildup
Healthy brain breaks down exercise Tau protein
repeated head injury - preceded tau aggregation results in wide-spread atrophy

Question 5

Tau protein

Answer 5

-Protein required by cells for stability.
In CTE it Malfunction- build up within neurons,
Cause- Disruption in processes and communication with adjacent neurons

Question 6

RF for CTE

Answer 6

Injuries-timing, location, & severity
Genetics
lifestyle

Question 7

CTE Stage 1

Answer 7

Headaches
Inattention
reduced concentration
Mild aggression
Explosivity
Mild memory dysfunction
mild depressive sx
Finite number of isolated clusters of Tau protein

Question 8

CTE- Stage 2

Answer 8

Cognitive/Memory dysfunction increases
Behavioral changes
Aggression increased
Explosive
Depression
Suicidality
Mutiple clusters of tau protein

Question 9

CTE Stage 3

Answer 9

Cognitive/Memory dysfunction increases
Mild dementia
Executive dysfunction
Aggression increased
Explosive
Depression
Suicidality
Mod tau disposition
Atrophy/decreased brain weight

Question 10

CTE Stage 4

Answer 10

Severe cognitive/memory dysfunction
Severe dementia
Paranoia
Pervasive aggression
Pervasive explosivity
Depression
Suicidality
Motor sx- Parkinsons
Severe tau disposition
Sign decreased in brain weight
Widespread atrophy/neuronal loss

Question 11

Concussion- return to sport

Answer 11

At least 12 days
Graded return to sport

Question 12

Limitation of protective gear

Answer 12

Cant protect against accel/decel injury
Risk compensation theory

Question 13

Emerging research- Medication

Answer 13

Drug experiments to prevent development of dementia due to repetitive head injury

?blocking neurotransmitter that causes excessive Tau protein

Question 14

Emerging research- neuroimaging

Answer 14

MRI Brain volume/white matter
PET -tracer to bind and track tau protein

Question 15

Emerging research- diagnostic criteria

Answer 15

• Substantial exposure to repeated head impact
  ruled out other conditions

Question 16

Emerging research-
biological markers

Answer 16

Bloods
genetics
Age
sport
Environment- stress/alcohol/substance abuse