Basal Ganglia

Question 1

What are the two types of treatment given for Parkinson’s disease? Which is the primary treatment and how effective is it?

Answer 1

L-DOPA, a precursor of dopamine. Or, deep brain stimulation.
L-DOPA is the primary treatment. Initially effective but after 5 - 10 years, 50% of patients would develop DOPA induced dyskinesia.

Question 2

In Parkinson’s, activity of the subthalamic nucleus is increased/decreased?

Answer 2

Increased

Question 3

What is athetosis?

Answer 3

Athetosis is changeable or writhing movements

Question 4

What is the cause of Huntington’s disease?

Answer 4

atrophy of striatum (caudate and putamen), resulting in loss of striatal GABAergic neurons, reducing inhibition of thalamus, leading to increased cortical excitation