BRAIN Flashcards
eyesight - how is this affected by ageing?
decreased peripepheral vision / depth perception
hearing - how is this affected by ageing?
lower acuity especially for high pitches
taste - how is this affected by ageing?
decreased tastebuds and salvia
touch / smell - how is this affected by ageing?
decreased sensitivity
arteries - how is this affected by ageing?
arteriosclerosis (stiffens)
bladder - how is this affected by ageing?
increased unrination
bones - how is this affected by ageing?
slower mineral replacement (heals slower)
heart - how is this affected by ageing?
thickens
lower max pumping rate
kidneys - how is this affected by ageing?
shrink
redcued efficicency
lungs - how is this affected by ageing?
reduced elasticity / max capacity
metabolism - how is this affected by ageing?
slower
muscle - how is this affected by ageing?
mass decline
nerves - how is this affected by ageing?
myelin sheath degeneration
skin - how is this affected by ageing?
drier / wrinkles
sexual health - how is this affected by ageing?
men - lower sperm production increase prostate size
women - menopause + lower lubrication
spine - how is this affected by ageing?
becomes brittle reducing sensation
brain - how is this affected by ageing? (general)
decline in volume (deterioration / slower replacement)
decrease on cortical density (ridged outer layer)
slower processing and cognitive function
which areas of the brain are most affected by ageing
prefrontal cortex
hippocampus
what is the function of the prefrontal cortex
planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making, and moderating social behaviour
what is the function of the hippocampus
consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory, and in spatial memory
what is lipofuscin
ageing pigment
brown pigment caused by the breakdown and absorption of damaged red blood cells
what happens to the blood flow and level of inflammation in the brain with ageing
blow flow - decreases
inflammation - increases
which mental factors decline with ageing (x4)
cognitive function
verbal ability
reaction time
intellectual performance
what happens to cerebral serotonin levels when ageing and what effect does this have
decreases
affects regulation of synaptic plasticity ( reaction time decline)
what happens to cerebral dopamine levels when ageing and what effect does this have
decreases
interferes with synapses and receptor binding
what happens to cerebral monoamide oxidase levels when ageing and what effect does this have
increases
more free radicals which damages cells
describe anterograde amnesia
difficulty learning new information stored in short term memory - trauma
describe retrograde amnesia
difficulty remembering past events - trauma
describe transient global amnesia
temporary loss of all memory (v rare) - vascular disease
describe traumatic amnesia
temporary loss of memory due to trauma combined with coma / blackout period
describe post-hypnotic amnesia
cannot remember events that occurred during hypnosis
describe blackout amnesia
heavy drinking leading to amnesia during the binge
describe Wernike - Korsakoff amnesia
extended alcohol abuse / B1 deficiency leading to progressive memory loss
describe hysterical amnesia
forgetting your own identity caused by severely traumatic event - memory comes back but not of event
describe childhood amnesia
cannot remember childhood events - brain had not fully developed during childhood
describe source amnesia
information retained but not how it was obtained
describe prosopamjnesia amnesia
cannot remember faces
Describe the mental capacity act of 2005
capacity is assumed unless there is contrary evidence
assessment of mental capacity should be performed if there are doubts
What is MCI and what does it stand for
mild cognitive impairment
state between normal cognition and dementia (pre-dementia state)
what does the equality act protect against ? specific to ageing
- losing their job / being refused membership / receiving a lower quality of service due to age
describe disengagement theory
increased age = disengagement from society / employment / family roles
describe structural dependance theory
government policy determines when ageing starts - retirement age
describe the successful ageing theory / 3rd age phase
seeing ageing as +ve
economic stability / personal growth / free from work
what is a social carer
paid / unpaid individual that supports a patient who is disables or mentally / physically ill
what is episodic memory
memory of autobiographical events that can be explicitly stated - personal experience
what is semantic memory
long term memory NOT from personal experiences (facts)
what is procedural memory
long term memory responsible for motor skills
what is working memory
short term memory for linguistic processing
cranial nerve I - name and function
olfactory
smell
cranial nerve II - name and function
optic
sight
cranial nerve III - name and function
oculomotor
moves eyelid / eyeballs
cranial nerve IV - name and function
trochlear
moves eyeballs
cranial nerve V - name and function
trigeminal
moves facial muscles
cranial nerve VI - name and function
abducens
moves eyeballs
cranial nerve VII - name and function
facial
taste / tears / saliva / facial expressions
cranial nerve VIII - name and function
vestobulocochlear
auditory
cranial nerve IX - name and function
glossopharyngeal
swallowing saliva taste
cranial nerve X - name and function
vagus
control of PNS (GI smooth muscle)
cranial nerve XI - name and function
accessory
movement of head and shoulders / swallowing
cranial nerve XII - name and function
hypoglossal
tongue muscles / speech / swallowing
Types of dementia - Alzheimer’s
C - plaques containing beta amyloid form in the brain - abnormal tau proteins forming neurofibrillary tangles disrupting cell transportation
S - decline in cognitive or behavioural function and performance compared with how they were previously
T - Cholinesterase inhibitors / NMDA receptor antagonists (used for symptom relief) / donepezil / Memantine and rivastigmine
Types of dementia - vascular dementia
C - reduced blood flow to the brain causing cell death
S - cannot follow instructions / concentrating problems / slower thought speed - progression is stepped - only gets worse when another stroke occurs - not progressive decline
T - controlling cardiovascular disease / high blood pressure / loose weight / quit smoking / exercise
Types of dementia - Parkinsons
C - LEWY BODIES deposition of alpha-synuclein proteins in the nerve cells of the brain due to low acetylcholine and dopamine levels - located at the BASE of brain (movement associated) caused by drop in dopamine levels due to death of nerve cells
S - bradykinesia (muscle stiffening and weakening) / tremors / loosing your sense of smell / change in voice
T - rivastigmine / Levodopa (makes nerve cells make dopamine)
Types of dementia - dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)
C - LEWY BODIES deposition of alpha-synuclein proteins in the nerve cells of the brain due to low acetylcholine and dopamine levels - located at the OUTER layers of the brain (cognitive association)
S - visual hallucinations / attention + alertness problems (swaying between okay and v bad) / movement problems (like parkinsons) / sleep disturbance / loosing their sense of smell
T - staying mentally active / NO antipsychotic drugs / donepezil and rivastigmine
Types of dementia - frontotemporal dementia (Picks disease)
C - portions of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain atrophy (shrink) due to accumulation of abnormal tau proteins (picks disease ) / TDP-43
S - extreme changes in behaviour and personality
T - speech and language therapy / developing a routine for sleeping and eating
Types of dementia - Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
C - transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that destroys the brain over time PRIONS (abnormal amyloid protein 14-3-3)
S - 40 year incubation period then rapid dementia and death within the year
T - opiate drugs to reduce pain and drugs to calm muscle spasms - no cure
what is the function of the frontal lobe of the brain + blood supple
MIDDLE CEREBRAL ARTERY motor function problem solving memory language judgement
what is the function of the temeporal lobe of the brain
MIDDLE CEREBRAL ARTERY
primary auditory perception
Cholinesterase inhibitors function
drug that inhibits the acetylcholinesterase enzyme from breaking down acetylcholine, thereby increasing both the level and duration of action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
describe subcortical dementia
small deep blood vessels in the brain walls thicken and become stiff reducing blood flow = nerve damage . small infarcts MOST COMMON
donepezil hydrochloride
reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase
T - Alzheimers disease
DT - asthma / COPD / peptic ulcers
SE - aggression / diarrhoea / vomiting / rash / headache /insomnia
rivastigmine
non-competitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase.
T - alzheimers / parkinsons
DT - ulcers / asthma / COPS / seizures / bladder issues
SE - anxiety / confusion / dyspepsia / weight loss / tremor
Levodopa with carbidopa
Levodopa works by replacing the chemical messenger dopamine, which the brain cells in the substantia nigra are no longer making.
carbidopa - stops enzymes breaking down the protein before it reaches the brain
T - parkinsons
DT - ?
SE - excessive daytime sleeping
