Module 12: Neuro Disorders Adult (b) Flashcards
1
Q
Seizures
-Description
A
- Sudden, Transient alteration in brain electrical function caused by an abrupt, explosive and excessive discharge of cerebral neurons
2
Q
Seizures
-Causes
A
- Hypoglycemia
- Water intoxication — Hyponatremia
- Alcohol intoxication
- Fever
- Stress
- Cerebral lesions
- Biochemical disorders
- Trauma
3
Q
Seizure Classification
-Types of Seizures
A
- Generalized Seizures — Originate in both sides of the brain simultaneously — arises from deeper subcortical region of the brain
- Focal (partial Seizures — Originate from ONE area of the brain — Seizure activity is limited to one hemisphere
—Seizure can manifest as motor or non-motor - Status Epilepticus — Seizure phase lasts longer than 5 minutes — Prolonged or recurrent seizure before fully regaining consciousness
—Needs Emergency intervention
4
Q
Seizures
-Phases of Clinical Manifestation
A
- Pre-Ictal — Prodrome present — Ex: Some symptom like confusion or anxiety that indicates imminent seizure — Focal Auras
- Ictal — Ictus phase is when you have TONIC-CLONIC activity and is the ACTUAL seizure
- TONIC PHASE - Occurs as result of exitation of the subcortical, THALMUS, and brainstem area
- CLONIC PHASE - Occurs when seizure d/c is interrupted resulting in alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles - Postictal — manifest in a long deep sleep, headache, confusion, memory loss or aphasia
5
Q
Seizure Consequences
A
- 250% increase in ATP consumption during seizure
- 60% increase oxygen consumption
- 250% increase in cerebral blood flow
- Available glucose and oxygen are depleted
- Increase lactate in the brain leading to cellular exhaustion and destruction
6
Q
Delirium
-Patho
A
- ACUTE confused states are transient states of confusion or awareness
- Typically acute w/ an abrupt onset but can be gradual or insidious in onset which can be caused by some type of toxin exposure.
- Causes
- Drug intoxication; alcohol or drug withdrawal; electrolyte imbalance; neuro dz or trauma; heart, liver or kidney failure; febrile illness; Post-anesthesia
7
Q
Delirium
-Clinical Manifestation
A
- Difficulty Focusing
- Restlessness or irritability
- Highly distraught
- Incoherent
- Delirium usually resolves w/in a few days of onset **
8
Q
Dementia
-Patho
A
- Dementia is the progressive failure of cerebral and cognitive functions not caused by an imported level of consciousness, like a TBI
- Results in nerve cell degeneration and brain atrophy
- Typically there is a slow reduction in cognitive function and its usually insidious
- There are some potentially reversible causes of dementia including
- Infections caused by meningitis, encephalitis, or neurosyphilis; Vit B deficiencies, ETOH, sedatives.
- Rule out the above causes when evaluating pt w/ dementia
9
Q
Dementia
-Permanent Causes
A
- Alzheimer’s
- Lewy body dementia
- Vascular Dementia
CLinical Manifestation
-Loss of recent and remote memory **
10
Q
Dementia
-Creutzfeldt-Jakob
A
- NON-Reversible Neurologic disorder w/ abnormalities of gait, speech, and dementia.
- Caused by PRIONS, which are infectious particles of nucleic acid
11
Q
Alzheimer’s
-Info
A
- Alzheimer’s is thought to have a genetic component regardless of subtype
- Familial AD — Autosomal dominant gene mutation that affects amyloid processing and clearance
- Non-Hereditary AD — Sporadic and generally late onset
12
Q
Alzheimer’s
-Patho
A
- Patho is altered beta amyloid processing and the development of neurotoxic fragments in plaques and tangles
- Results in loss of neurons causing BRAIN ATROPHY
- As deep groves for in cerebral cortex, there is a loss in synapses and acetylcholine — Resulting in memory loss
- LONG prodromal dz before manifestations of AD are obvious
13
Q
Parkinson’s
-Info
A
Primary and secondary Causes
- Primary Causes — Mostly idiopathic; 10% has familial association
- Secondary Causes
- Repeated head trauma
- Huntington’s disease
- Fragile X syndrome
- Neurosyphilis
- Toxin exposure
- MS
- Huge variety of other neurodegenerativa diseases
- Drug induced causes are usually reversible
14
Q
Parkinson’s Disease
-Patho
A
- Results from degeneration of the pigmented dopaminergic neurons that are found in the SUBSTANTIA NIGRA
- Loss of pigmented neurons in the substantia nigra which secrete dopamine, results in dopamine deficiency
- Lewy bodies and amyloid plaques have been found in the brain of Parkinson’s sufferers so there is clearly some type of patho similarity to Alzheimer’s
- There is also general loss of basal ganglia, which are a group of structures near the thalamus that coordinate movement
15
Q
Parkinson’s
-Clinical Manifestations
A
- Can start on one side of the body and progress
- Tremor is often the first symptom
- Symptoms include
- Rigidity of movement
- Loss of facial expression
- Propulsive gait
- Absent arm swing
16
Q
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
-Info
A
- Results in progressive muscle weakness — Motor neuron degenerative disorder of upper and lower motor neurons
- Causes progressive weakness, Respiratory failure and death
- Normal intellectual and cognitive function - 3-5 year life expectancy
17
Q
Brain Trauma
-Risk factors
A
- 6 months to 2 years
- School-age children
- Adolescents and young adults 15-35 yrs
- Increase in people over 70 yrs
- Men are 1.5 x as likely to sustain TBI
- Falls are the #1 cause of brain injury
18
Q
Brain Trauma
-Primary and Secondary
A
- Primary head trauma is result of direct focal hit to the skull causing injury
- Secondary brain injury is an indirect injury often a result of a CVA, ischemia, hemorrhage, oxidative stress or inflammation