7 - parkinson’s disease : pathophysiolgy and clincal management Flashcards
1
Q
age of onset in PD?
A
- usually >60
- young onset in 5% - <40
2
Q
what are the core clinical features of PD?
A
- bradykinesia, rigidity
- resting tremor (can also be postural)
3
Q
describe movement in bradykinesia
A
slow and reduced amplitude
4
Q
how is rigidity different from spasticity?
A
not velocity dependent, unlike spasticity
5
Q
what are and what is the main component of Lewy bodies?
A
- occlusion bodies in neurones
- a-synuclein = main component — damages neurones, causes degeneration
6
Q
parkinson’s disease pathology
A
- Lewy bodies — mainly in substantia nigra
- degeneration of SNc — loss of dopamine
- caudo-rostral spread of lewy bodies through brain regions via vagus nerve (starts in brainstem, medulla, olfactory bulb)
7
Q
genetics in PD?
A
- monogenic
- recessive is more common in young onset eg. parkin
- dominant eg. SNCA, LRRK2
- dysfunction in number of cellular pathways
8
Q
environmental factors in PD?
A
- toxins eg. MPTP (neurotoxin which causes DA degeneration), paraquat (pesticide)
- possibility of spread of toxic/infective agents from gut/olfactory system
9
Q
how is PD diagnosed?
A
- bradykinesia + tremor and/or rigidity
- absence of red flags + at least one of:
- clear response to dopaminergic therapy
- levodopa-induced dyskinesia
- rest tremor
- olfactory loss (often occurs early on)
10
Q
what are red flags for idiopathic PD diagnosis?
A
- absent tremor, symmetrical onset (usually asymmetrical in PD)
- early gait abnormality and falls (falls usually happen later on in PD)
- pyramidal tract signs
- poor levodopa response
- supranuclear gaze palsy (problem looking up and down)
- dysautonomia, ataxia stridor (multiple system atrophy)
- apraxia, myoclonus, alien limb
- early dementia
11
Q
what are some non-motor features of PD?
A
- cognitive impairment eg. dementia, behavioural problems
- visual hallucinations
- mood disorders
- olfactory deficit
- pain (brainstem nuclei involved?)
- sleep disorders
- mood disorders
- orthostasis
- constipation, urine and erectile dysfunction
12
Q
what are possible pre-motor features?
A
- REM sleep behaviour disorder (people act out their dreams)
- anosmia
- constipation
- depression
- pain
13
Q
how do symptoms of PD develop throughout the disease?
A
- starts with autonomic and olfactory disturbances
- sleep and motor disturbances
- emotional and cognitive disturbances (spread of Lewy bodies to cortex)
14
Q
what are enkephalin and dynorphin substance P like in PD?
A
- increased ENK due to overactive indirect pathway
- decreased dynorphin due to decrease in direct pathway
15
Q
why is there decreased movement in PD?
A
more inhibiton of thalamus