Degenerative Disorders Flashcards
Alzheimer’s Symptoms
Forgetfulness, disorientation (time, place), difficulty with concentration and language.
Alzheimer’s Cause
Too much Beta-amyloid causes decrease in neurotransmitter and neuron death.
Shrunk up cerebral cortex.
Alzheimer’s Treatments
4 drugs that prevent breakdown of acetylcholine (inhibit Ach-esterase), 1 regulates glutamate.
Anti-amyloid therapies are a goal.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Symptoms
muscle paralysis (hands and feet then all voluntary muscles)
death by respiratory failure
ALS Cause
Motor neurons in brain and spinal cord begin to disintegrate, resulting in lack of stimulation and disuse of muscle.
ALS treatment
Anti-glutamate drugs to slow progression.
Huntington’s Symptoms
Involuntary movements, mood swings, depression, slurred speech
Huntington’s Cause
Hereditary brain disorders
Huntington’s protein (turns genes on) has an abnormal toxic function.
Parkinson’s Symptoms
Slow movement, rigidity, walking and balance impairment.
Parkinson’s Cause
Loss of dopamine in Substantia Nigra
40% of cells must be lost before symptoms start to appear.
Parkinson’s treatment
Levodopa (converted into dopamine in the brain)
Deep Brain stimulation
