brain dysfunction Flashcards
what is the difference between structural and functional brain dysfunction
structural:
- stroke
- dementia
- traumatic brain injury
functional:
- autism
- OCD
- major depression
what is the difference between an ischemic/haemorrhagic stroke
ischemic - loss of blood flow via vessel blockage
haemorrhagic - bleed from the artery into the brain, causing compression to brain tissue
what are the two types of ischemic strokes? (thrombotic and embolic)
thrombotic:
- blood clot formed within the blood vessel
- can often build up around atherosclerosis
embolic:
- clot formed outside the blood vessel and travels to brain and becomes lodged
- could be cholesterol buildups coming from neck blood vessels and travel to brain
what are acute treatments for ischemic stroke
- clot busting drugs
- must be sure that it is not a haemorrhage
- must be done early (within 3-4 hours)
- early intervention may reduce extent of stroke
what are the chronic treatments for ischemic stroke
- therapy for physical disabilities
- therapy for language/cognitive difficulties
- adaptation to body/cognitive limitations
- some natural recovery, especially in young people
treatment for hamorrhagic stroke?
aneurysm clip, which pinches off and stays in the brain forever
chronic ischemic stroke - posterior cerebral artery (PCA) strokes
- may affect vision
- object recognition problems
- memory problems
chronic ischemic stroke - middle cerebral artery (MCA) strokes
- affect pre-central (motor) and post-central gyrus (sensory) on one side
- leads to semi paralysis and loss of sensation on one side
- can affect language
chronic ischemic stroke - anterior cerebral artery (ACA) strokes
- can affect some medial parts of the pre-post central gyrus
- sensory/motor loss
- executive dysfunction
traumatic brain injury (TBI) - closed head injury
often happens as a result of a rapid acceleration or deceleration
nerve fibres stretched and torn which can result in diffuse brain damage (widespread damage)
what are the key features of brain tumours (glioma and meningioma)
- can arise from glial cells (glioma) or the protective layer of meninges (meningioma)
- slowly progressive
- seizures common if cortex is involved
- can cause compression and injury to brain tissue as they expand
what are meninges
three membranes that line the skull and vertebral canal and enclose the brain and spinal cord
what is dementia?
acquired persistent impairment of intellectual function with compromise in memory and at least two other cognitive domains, such as language, visuospatial skills, social, occupational or executive function
what is the difference between neurodegenerative and non-degenerative?
neurodegenerative means you cannot stop the process, such as dementia
non-degenerative means it can be stopped. for example, alcohol can cause degeneration, but can be stopped by not drinking alcohol
what are some examples of non degenerative and neurodegenerative diseases?
neurodegenerative:
- alzheimers disease
- frontotemporal dementia/Pick’s disease
non degenerative:
- vascular dementia
- toxins
- infection
- alcohol
what are the cognitive and behavioural deficits of Alzheimer’s disease
cognitive:
- profound memory loss
- language - anomic, empty, circumlocutory
- visuospatial disturbance
behavioural:
- no significant early changes in personality
- unawareness or denial of illness
- psychosis
what is the difference between retrograde and anterograde amnesia
retrograde: inability to remember the past
anterograde: inability to form new memories
what is anomic aphasia
is a language disorder that leads to trouble naming objects
what is circumlocutory language disorder?
where patient refers to object, event or person, describing characteristics instead of using its name
what is empty language impairment
phonological disorder that affects the phonological level
patient has difficulty organising their speech sounds into a system of sound contrasts
what are the cognitive and behavioural deficits of Pick’s disease
cognitive:
- profound executive dysfunction (frontal damage)
- memory and language impairment (temporal damage)
behavioural:
- early prominent personality changes
- poor judgement, insight, disinhibited, labile, euphoric, socially inappropriate, sexual indiscretions
what its the difference between Parkinson’s and Huntingtons
parkinsons:
- hypokinetic
- loss of muscle movement due to disruption in basal ganglia
- muscle rigidity and inability to produce movement
huntingtons:
- hyperkinetic
- frenetic energy or activity (hyperactive)
what is the role of dopamine in parkinsons and huntingtons
parkinsons = too little dopamine
huntingtons = too much dopamine
key features of parkinsons
- genetic and environment
- usually over 60
- mostly males
- tremor, slow movements, rigid, speech/swallowing difficulties, depression, cognitive changes
key features of Huntingtons
- genetic mutation
- usually 30-55
- smaller distribution
- dancelike jerking, rigid, speech/swallowing difficulties, psychiatric disorders, cognitive changes
Huntingtons abnormal movements - chorea and athetosis
chorea - involuntary movements of the face, neck and limbs
athetosis - slow, writhing movements confined to the limbs
