Etiologies of Neurogenic Communication Disorders ll Flashcards
Give 7 examples of Neurogenic Communication Disorders:
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Traumatic Brain Injury
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson’s Disease
Huntington’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Degenerative disorder characterized by patchy loss of myelin (i.e., plaques) in motor and/or sensory tracts of brain and/or spinal cord
At what age is Multiple sclerosis usually diagnosed?
Usually diagnosed < 40 yrs
What causes MS?
The cause is unknown, but it is likely due to auto-immune response
In MS the symptoms are ______________ and_____________________
unpredictable and vary from person to person
What are symptoms an MS patient could experience? (5)
- Motor symptoms (e.g., weakness, loss of coordination)
- Sensory disturbances (e.g., vision, audition, somatosensory)
- Speech disturbance (e.g., dysarthria, hypophonia)
- Cognitive impairment (esp. attention, short-term memory)
- Extreme fatigue
What can we say about the speed of onsets and the remission in MS?
Rapid onset of symptoms usually followed by complete remission for weeks to years
What can we say about the subsequent episodes in MS?
Subsequent episodes are unpredictable and associated symptoms remit less completely or not at all
What are motor disorders?
Disorders marked by abnormalities in controlling movement and posture due to basal ganglia dysfunction
What is a degenerative condition?
Progressive, often irreversible deterioration, and loss of function in the organs or tissues.
What can Motor Disorders produce as they progress?
cognitive/communicative deficits
What are two types of kinetic disorders can Motor Disorders produce? (2)
- Hypokinetic
- Hyperkinetic
What is the most hypokinetic motor disorder?
Parkinson’s Disease
Is Parkinson’s common or uncommon?
Common neurologic disease
What is the mean age of onset of Parkinson’s?
60
What can we say about Parkinson’s symptoms over time? (2)
- Over time, more symptoms arise (rate of change is variable)
- Slowly progressive (usually 10-20 yrs before symptoms cause severe disability)
What is Parkinson’s Disease marked by in the substantia nigra and basal ganglia?
Includes marked degeneration of substantia nigra and loss of dopamine projections to BG
What can we expect to see at the substantia nigra in a horizontal section of the brain from Parkinson’s?
Diminished substantia nigra
What can we expect to see in the transmission of neurotransmitters from Parkinson’s?
There would be less dopamine NT projections to the post-synaptic neuron
What are Positive symptoms?
Addition of abnormal behaviors and functions
What are Negative symptoms?
lessening or absence of normal behaviors and functions
What are positive symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease? (3)
- Tremor at rest (esp. “pill-rolling”)
- Rigidity (increased tone in extensor and flexor muscles, “cogwheel rigidity”)
- Akathesia (involuntary movements)
What are negative symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease? (5)
- Postural disorders (difficulty maintaining posture)
- Righting disorders (difficulty standing up)
- Locomotive disorders (shuffling gait, festination)
- Speech disturbances (esp. aprosodia, hypophonia, dysarthria)
- Akinesia (slowness of movement, masked face)
What are psychological aspects of Parkinson’s disease? (3)
- Psychological symptoms vary like motor symptoms
- Slowed thinking, attention & ECF impairments are common
- May have general cognitive deterioration (Parkinson’s dementia)
Is there a cure for Parkinson’s Disease? If yes, what are they?
No, there is no cure
What are treatments of Parkinson’s Disease? (3)
Pharmacologic (L-Dopa esp. dopamine agonists)
Surgery
Deep brain stimulation
What is an uncommon hyperkinetic neurologic disorder?
Huntington’s Disease
True or False: Huntington’s is a hypokinetic neurodegenerative disorder?
False, Hyperkinetic neurodegenerative disorder
True or False: Huntington’s Disease is hereditary.
True
At what ages does the onset gradually occur?
Gradual onset usually between 30 and 50 years
What is the lifespan of HD patient after the diagnosis?
12 to 20 year lifespan
What are symptoms of HD? (4)
- Chorea (involuntary, irregular movements that may appear semi-purposeful)
- Motor deficits (e.g., in speech, swallowing, writing)
- Cognitive deficits (esp. in attention, memory, mental speed)
- Emotional changes (e.g., depression, anxiety, mania)
What causes HD?
Basal ganglia dysfunction (GABA & ACh neurons die, increasing DA release)
What is Dementia?
Impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities.
What is the common for form of dementia?
Alzheimer’s Disease
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Insidious and gradual loss of cognitive function
True or False: Younger groups have higher prevalence in AD.
False: Older age groups have higher prevalences (> 35% of Canadians aged 85+ have dementia)
AD occurs ___________ or in a __________ form
AD occurs sporadically or in a genetic form
What is an initial symptom of AD?
Anterograde amnesia (recent memory)
What are later symptoms of AD? (5)
Aphasia
Apraxia
Agnosia
Impaired executive function
Retrograde amnesia (remote memory)
What occurs primarily in the cortex from AD ? (2)
- Abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells that disrupt cell functions.
- Amyloid plaques (primarily in cortex)
What occurs primarily in the cortex and hippocampus from AD? (2)
- Neurofibrillary tangles
- Abnormal accumulations of a protein called tau that collect inside neurons.
What occurs in the limbic system and neocortex in AD?
Degeneration of limbic system and neocortex
What happens to the shape of the cortex in AD?
Brain Atrophy (shrinking of the brain due to loss of neurons and the connections between them)
What happens to the dendrites in AD?
Loss of dendritic arborization
What happens to NT in AD?
Neurotransmitter changes (complex; affects ACh esp., but also noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, glutamate)
What is a treatment used for AD?
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors may slow progression, unfortunately, there is no cure
