Miscellaneous Neuro Flashcards
Multiple Sclerosis
Most common acquired dz of myelin
Autoimmune against myelin sheath
Results in multiple areas of scarring
characterized by relapse and recovery
Which part of the brain does MS affect?
the white matter
Areas affected by MS
Optic nerve speech and swallow muscle strength gait and coordination balance Positional and vibratory sense
MS Epidemiology
Occurs btw ages of 15-50
Females > Males
Northern latitude populations
Symptoms of MS
Weakness, numbness, tinging and unsteadiness of a limb. (Lhermitte's symptoms) Unilateral visual impairment, diploplia Fatigue, muscle weakness Spastic paraparesis Mental disturbance
Signs of MS
Optic neuritis Opthalmoplegia Nystagmus Hyperflexia Babinski sign Absent abd reflex Labile, changed mood
MS Dx
Neuroimaging
IV gadolinium enhances acute lesions
Lesions are multifocal, hyperintense
CSF can be helpful when MRI not confirmatory
Mild MS Tx
Healthy lifestyle
Physical therapy
Symptomatic MS Tx
Corticosteroids - mainstay INterferon 1a, b Methotrexate Tysabri Symptomatic Tx
Cerebral Palsy
Not caused by problems in muscles and nerves
Caused by abnormalities in brain that control muscle movements.
A disease of childhood
Kids with CP are generally born with it
Cerebral Palsy Cause
Damage to young developing brain
During pregnancy: Infxn, hypoxia, prematurity
During birth: Asphyxia
After birth: Brain infxns, head injuries
4 Classifications of Cerebral Palsy
Spastic
Athetoid
Ataxic
Mixed
Spastic CP
Most common type, 70%
Damage to corticospinal tract, motor cortex or pyrimidal tract.
Hypertonia
Athenoid (Dyskinetic) CP
20% of all cases Have trouble holding self upright Often show involuntary motions Fine motor movements are very hard May not be able to hold onto things
Ataxia CP
Problems with balance, especially while walking. 10% of cases Damage to cerebellum Hypotonia and tremors Motor skills are difficult
