brain function 2 Flashcards
how much energy consumption does the adult/ child brain account for ?
adult = 20%
child = 50%
how many neurons are in the brain ?
100 billion neurons
how many synapses are there ?
100 trillion synapses
what are astrocytes ?
maintain homeostasis in the brain
provides nutrient , remove ions and neurotransmitters
comprise part of the blood brain barrier
lie between capillaries and neurons
what are microglia ?
resident immune cells of CNS
what are oligodendrocytes ?
wrap myelin around axons
what are ependymal cells ?
lines cavities and ventricles in CNS
can be specialised as secretory epithelium and produce CSF (500 ml per day )
cilia help circulate the cerebrospinal fluid
microscopically the brain has 2 neural elements , what are they called ?
neuron cell bodies ( clusters are called nuclei )
nerve fibres ( bundles are called tracts )
where is cerebrum located ?
largest and uppermost portion of the brain
greatest are of development
what are the four lobes of the cerebrum called ?
frontal , parietal , temporal and occiptal
what are the functions of the cerebrum ?
consciousness, memory , sensations , emotions , voluntary movements
what separates temporal and frontal lobes ?
insula borders ( latin for island )
what are functional areas of the brain ?
motor - controls voluntary movement
sensory - allows for conscious recognition of stimuli
association - integration
what is cognition ?
refers to ability to think , learn and remember
what are some body changes with aging ?
activity level declines
decline in lean body mass
reduction in bone density
impaired dentition and digestive function can reduces nutrient bioavailability
skin changes ( less vit D produced )
what is third common cause of death in uk ?
stroke
how many people over 65 years have dementia ?
1 in 14
how many people over 80 years old have dementia ?
1 in 6
how many people will depression affect over their lifetime ?
1 in 4
what is mild cognitive impairment ? ( mci )
condition in which people have more memory or over thinking problems than normal for their age
if you have MCI are you at more or less risk of dementia ?
increased
what is dementia ?
decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life
what are types of dementia ?
Alzheimer’s
vascular
dementia with Lewy bodies
mixed dementia
Parkinson’s
frontotemporal
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
normal pressure hydrocephalus
Huntington’s disease
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
what is dementia with Lewy bodies ?
memory loss
thinking problems
initial or early symptoms such as sleep disturbance
visual hallucinations
muscle rigidity
what is mixed dementia ?
linked to more than one type of dementia
what is Parkinson’s disease ?
changes in movement
changes gradually spread
what is frontotemporal dementia ?
changes in personality and behaviour and difficulty with language
what is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ?
” Mad cow disease “
rapid fatal disorder
impairs memory and coordination
occurs in cattle and transmitted to people
what is normal pressure hydrocephalus ?
difficulty walking , memory loss , inability to control urination
what is Huntington’s disease ?
single defective gene on chromosome 4
what is wernicke-korsakoff syndrome?
serve deficiency of thiamine
what is the most common type of dementia ?
Alzheimer’s disease
what percentage of dementia cases are Alzheimer’s disease ?
60-80%
who identified Alzheimer’s disease ?
Dr. Alois Alzheimer
how did Alois Alzheimer discover Alzheimer’s disease ?
examined brains of women who died of mental illness
found abnormal clumps ( now called amyloid plaques ) and bundle of fibres
how does Alzheimer’s disease effect the brain ?
nerve cell death
tissue loss throughout the brain
who has an increased risk factor men or women ?
women
what are some characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease ?
memory loss
difficulty with familiar tasks
problems with language
poor judgement
misplacing things
change in mood or behaviour
how do you diagnosis Alzheimer’s disease ?
there isn’t a single test
medical evaluation
what are benefits to early diagnosis ?
enables people to understand their condition
early access to treatment to relieve symptoms
legal [ power of attorney / wills / living wills
life planning
what is a co- morbidities ?
additional chronic conditions
what is the treatment for Alzheimer’s disease ?
no cure
drugs and non drugs treatment to maintain life quality
