Aging in The Nervous System Flashcards
What is the composition of the Nervous System?
▪️Central Nervous System Brain Spinal Chord ▪️Peripheral Nervous System 12 pairs of cranial nerves 31 pairs of spinal nerves
What is the Peripheral Nervous System?
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the division of the nervous system containing all the nerves that lie outside of the central nervous system (CNS).
What is the primary goal Peripheral Nervous System?
The primary role of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the organs, limbs, and skin.
How many pairs of cranial nerves are in the Peripheral Nervous System?
12 pairs
How many pairs of spinal nerves are in the Peripheral Nervous System?
31
What is the primary goal of the Central Nervous System?
The central nervous system (CNS) controls most functions of the body and mind. “Together with the peripheral nervous system, it has a fundamental role in the control of behavior.”
What is the main function of the brain?
▪️processing sensory information
▪️regulating blood pressure and breathing
▪️releasing hormones
What is the main function(s) of the spinal cord?
▪️It connects a large part of the peripheral nervous system to the brain.
▪️Information (nerve impulses) reaching the spinal cord through sensory neurons are transmitted up into the brain.
How do you get live brain imaging ?
PET Scan:
▪️perform task; assess glucose metabolism
In regards to brain mapping are there distinct areas, distinct functions? What are 3 areas of the brain?
There are no distinct areas or functions…
(1) Motor Area
(2) Sensory Area
(3) Special Senses Areas
What is the role of the motor area of the brain?
The role of the primary motor cortex is to generate neural impulses that control the execution of movement.
What is the role of the special senses area of the brain?
figures out the messages you receive from the five senses of sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste
What is the composition of the Nerves?
▪️Neuron
▪️Myelin Sheath
▪️Nerve
What are neurons?
Neurons are cells within the nervous system that transmit information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells. Most neurons have a cell body, an axon, and dendrites.
What is Myelin Sheath?
The insulating envelope of myelin that surrounds the core of a nerve fiber or axon and that facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses, formed from the cell membrane of the Schwann cell in the peripheral nervous system and from oligodendroglia cells. medullary sheath.
What is a nerve?
(in the body) a whitish fiber or bundle of fibers that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord, and impulses from these to the muscles and organs.
“cable” of neuronal processes.”
What is the cellular composition?
Neurons
Dendrite
Axon
Synapse
What is the function of neurons in cellular composition?
Transmitting nerve impulses
What is the function of dendrite in cellular composition?
Receiving electrical messages. These messages come in two basic forms: excitatory and inhibitory.
What is the function of axon in cellular composition?
conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron’s cell body or soma.
What is the function of synapse in cellular composition?
Gap; neurotransmitter e.g., dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin.
What is dopamine?
The brains pleasure and reward system.”
▪️ the body’s chemical messengers responsible for facilitating communications between nerve cells in the nervous system (which includes the brain, where dopamine functions).
What is serotonin?
Serotonin is an important chemical and neurotransmitter in the human body. It is believed to help regulate mood and social behavior, appetite and digestion, sleep, memory, and sexual desire and function.
What is the complexity of cellular composition ?
▪️100 billion neurons each with an average of 1000 connections result in 100 trillion synapses
What are Schwann cells?
Myelin sheath in PNS; improves conduction.
What are astrocytes?
“Support” cells in CNS
▪️repair function
▪️10 glia/neuron
What are Oligodendrocytes?
Myelin sheath in CNS aka white matter.
▪️improves conduction
▪️remodel as we age
What is Herpes Zoster (shingles)?
Chickenpox (Herpesvirus) return
What area on the body is affected by herpes zoster? what are symptoms?
Back/chest
Symptoms= itching and pain
What nerves are affected by herpes zoster?
Sensory nerve endings
What is a preventative for herpes zoster?
Zostavax
What is a treatment for herpes zoster?
Acyclovir
What is another name for stroke or brain attack?
Cerebrovascualar accident or CVA
What happens during a Cerebrovascular Attack (brain attack)?
▪️Reduced blood flow to Brain (Atherosclerosis, High bp)
▪️Neurons die
▪️”Opposite body presentation”
What is Opposite body presentation?
When experiencing a stroke the opposite side becomes affected
By losing its mobility on that side.
What is the severity of Cerebrovascular Attack?
Severely depends on damage. ▪️Damages can result in Paralysis Dementia Depression OR Death
What are the two main types of strokes?
▪️Hemorrhagic Stroke: hemorrhage/ blood leaks into brain tissue
▪️Ischemic Stroke:
clot stops blood supply to an area of the brain
Which stroke has the highest incidences?
Ischemic, 80% of strokes of Ischemic.
What are Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA)?
Mini strokes, common in elderly.
What is Multi-Infarction Dementia?
Seen as senility or absent mindedness
What does F.A.S.T stand for and what is it used for?
▪️To detect whether someone is experiencing a stroke
▪️F- face; ask them to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
▪️A- Arms; ask to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
▪️S- Speech; ask them to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
▪️T- Time; if you observe any of these signs call 9-1-1 right away
Why is time of the essence when someone is experiencing a stroke?
A stroke victim can gain a month of disability free life for every 15 minutes saved in getting the medication they need (clot busting drugs).
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
A progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.
How is Alzheimer’s diagnosed?
▪️Post Mortem
▪️Cognitive assessment
▪️Non invasive early tests
What caused Alzheimer’s?
Accumulation of amyloid over time
What is amyloid?
a protein that is deposited in the liver, kidneys, spleen, or other tissues in certain diseases.
Is there a cure for Alzheimer’s?
An experiment in which involved rejuvenation of an old mouse by transferring the young mouse’s blood into it was suspected to be a cure for humans. Older people would take the blood of a younger person. This is NOT effective and there are no cures.
What happens to people with Alzheimer’s?
“Progressive decline, distinct stages. ▪️decrease short-term memory ▪️decrease spatial disorientation ▪️decrease emotional spontaneity ▪️loss off higher order functions ▪️confusion, loss time and recognition ▪️seizures, loss of speech
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
A disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, often including tremors.
What is the typical appearance of Parkinson’s Disease?
▪️Anxiety, Depression
▪️Muscle rigidity, tremors
▪️Shuffling, monotone, drool, watery eyes.
▪️reduced arm swinging
What caused Parkinson’s Disease?
Low levels of dopamine (substantia nigra)
What are treatments for Parkinson’s?
L-Dopa Treatment(deep brain stimulation): used to increase dopamine levels
⬇️symptoms, disease progresses
Why is Parkinson’s a progressive neurodegenerative disease?
Fail to notice physical symptoms till about 80% of dopamine neurons are lost
What is the causes of Parkinson’s?
▪️mostly unknown; 15% genetic
▪️age increase risk; 65+ (assoc w/ chronic inflammation)
▪️concussions/gender; male: breathing in heavy metals and or pesticides
What are some symptoms of Parkinson’s?
▪️Shakiness, Tremors, slow movements, loss of balance
