Lecture 26: Disorders of the nervous system 1 Flashcards
What are the four categories of mental and neurological disorders?
learning and developmental disabilities, neurological disorders, mental diseases and substance abuse disorders
What do learning and developmental disabilities include?
functional limitations that manifest in infancy or childhood as a result of disorders of or injuries to the developing nervous system
What are the most significant neurological diseases?
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and multiple sclerosis
What is dementia?
a deterioration of intellectual function and other cognitive skills
that is of sufficient severity to interfere with social or occupational functioning
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
the most common form of dementia
What is Alzheimer’s characterised by?
deposition of amyloid protein and the disruption of the neuronal cytoskeleton
What are the three main cytoskeleton protein polymers?
microtubules, neurofilaments and microfilaments
What does deposition of amyloid protein lead to?
this may cause neurons to produce abnormal intracellular aggregations of tau protein which form neurofibrillary tangles -> may be the cause of neuronal death
What is tau protein?
a protein which is normally present in neurons where it stabilises microtubules
What is epilepsy?
a common brain disorder characterized by two or more unprovoked seizures
What are seizures?
discrete events caused by transient, hyper-synchronous, abnormal neuronal activity
When may seizures occur?
in close temporal association with acute stroke, sepsis, or alcohol withdrawal
however, the vast majority of seizures have no immediate identifiable cause
What categories can epilepsy be divided into?
idiopathic epilepsy
secondary or symptomatic epilepsy
cryptogenic epilepsy
What is idiopathic epilepsy?
though to have a genetic basis (10%)
What is secondary or symptomatic epilepsy?
caused by a known central nervous system injury or disorder, such as infection, stroke or traumatic injury (20%)
What is cryptogenic epilepsy?
for which there is no clear evidence of an etiological factor (60%)
What are the genetic mutations underlying inherited epilepsy?
mutations within genes encoding proteins directly associated with neuronal excitability, such as ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors
What is multiple sclerosis?
a chronic, autoimmune disease characterized by destruction of myelin in the CNS
What are symptoms of MS?
changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle weakness, depression, difficulties with coordination and speech, severe fatigue, cognitive impairment, problems with balance, overheating, and pain
What are mental disorders? What do they interfere with?
diseases that affect cognition, emotion, and behavioural control and substantially interfere both with the ability of children to learn and with the ability of adults to function in their families, at work, and in the broader society
Which mental disorders do males have at higher rates?
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and substance use disorders
Which mental disorders do females have at higher rates?
major depressive disorder, most anxiety disorders, and eating disorders
What are the most significant mental disorders?
schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, major depressive disorder and panic disorder
What causes mental diseases?
possible underlying pathophysiology
