Disorders of degeneration Flashcards
**what happens in parkinsons
degeneration of neurons in the basal ganglia(coordination of movements) specifically in the substantia nigra-cells that produce dopamine - person has a lack of dopamine
**classic triad of symptoms r/t parkinsons disease
bradykinesia (slowness in initiation and execution of movement), tremor at rest, rigidity (increased muscle tone)
most people with parkinsons don’t show symptoms until
80% of neurons are lost
those with parkinsons lose their sense of
smell - cranial nerve I
what causes parkinsons disease
unknown
s/s of parkinsons
tremor at rest - with intention goes away (unilateral)
pill rolling
cog wheel rigidity
lack of spontaneity with movement (mask face)
shuffling gait
2 dx tools for parkinsons
writing (normal to tinier - micrographia) soft speech (hypophonia)
is parkinsons a progressive disease
yes - advanced stages can’t care for themselves
how do we dx parkinsons
no specific dx test
based on history and features (classic triad)
**how many symptoms from classic triad to be dx w/parkinsons
2 out of 3
**how do you confirm dx of parkinsons
improved response to anti-parkinsonian meds
what type of disorder is huntingtons
autosomal dominant located on chromosome 4
*a son or daughter of a pt with huntingtons has what percent chance of getting the disease
50%
if you have the mutation for huntingtons will you get it
yes - but won’t know when or how badly - provide counseling
what happens with huntingtons disease
protein builds up in nerve cells and degenerates them (in the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex)
excess of dopamine, deficiency of acetylcholine and GABA which regulates motor activity
