Nervous system Flashcards
MCI definition
Mild cognitive impairment
A state of cognitive decline not severe enough to interfere with basic activities of daily living.
Characteristics of MCI
Memory complaint, memory impairment (non-severe memory loss), ability to still perform ADL’s, normal overall thinking and cognitive function.
Causes of MCI
Stress, anxiety, depression, physical illness.
Dementia definition
-Group of signs and symptoms caused by a neurological disorder (alzheimers, parkinsons, head trauma).
-Must be severe enough to interfere with the persons ability to function
-Progressive, causes change in memory, thinking, perception, reasoning, judgement, concentration, language.
Cause of dementia
Loss of nerve cells causes brain to shrink as disorder progresses (spreads).
-Huntingtons, parkinsons, alzheimers, chronic alcoholism, neurologic infection, head injuries, multiple mini-strokes.
S+S of dementia in general
Recent memories effected first, asks same questions repeatedly, may not recognize where they are, loose recognition of family members.
Early symptoms of dementia
Sudden memory problem
Mild confusion
Disoriented
Forgetfulness
Decreased judgement
Middle symptoms of dementia
Impaired ability to recognize family and friends
Confusion
Forget how to do simple tasks
Agitation
All long and short term memory lost
Apraxia, aphasia and sundowning
Late symptoms of dementia
Little memory, unable to process new info
Cant understand words
Dysphagia
Repetitious words / sounds
immobility
Incontinence
Dysphasia
Unable to control self care
Apraxia meaning
Inability to perform purposeful movement or actions (brushing hair)
Aphasia
Loss of expression/speech, difficult communication (more sever than dysphasia).
Dyshphasia
Difficulty speaking and finding words as a result to brain damage or disease, speech doesn’t make sense.
Sundowning
Confusion in late afternoon / evening (wandering, yelling)
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing.
Therapeutic measures for dementia
Focus: Maintaining patient safety and delaying progression of symptoms
-Remove harmful objects
-Monitor pt’s ability to maintain safety
-Maintain normal daily routine
-Keep environment simple
-Use night lights
-Keep ID on patient
-Daily exercises
-Adjust meals
Vascular dementia definition
A general term describing problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory and other thought processes caused by brain damage from impaired blood flow to your brain (narrowing/blocking of arteries).
☆Cerebral Ischemia
Risk factors for vascular dementia
Hypertension
Smoking
Dysrythmia
Diabetes
Treatment of vascular dementia and goal of treatment
Goal: To reduce progression, maintain safety, family adaptation
Meds to treat HTN, high cholesterol and CAD
Adopt healthier lifestyle
Rehabilitative support
Alzheimers definition
Progressive fatal disease, presence of neuritic plaque on neurons and neurofibrillary tangles cause brain cells to die and brain to shrink.
Neurofibrillary tangles definition
Insoluble twisted fibers found inside the brain’s cells.
Present in alzheimers
What part of the brain does alzheimers first affect?
The hippocampus
(responsible for recent memory) it then spreads.
Diagnosis for alzheimers
Takes a very long time to be diagnosed, first have to rule out all other causes.
-MRI, only confirmed upon autopsy
Alzheimers treatment and goal
No cure
Goal: To minimize symptoms and slow down progression
-Maintain independence as long as possible
-Meds to slow decline-Aricept, Ebixa and Risperdal
What is the medication Ebixa (memantine) used for?
Used to treat patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease, should improve your thinking capacity and your ability to remember.
What is the medication Aricept (cholinesterose inhibitors donezepil) used for
Used to treat confusion related to Alzheimer’s disease. It may improve memory, awareness, and the ability to function.
What is the medication Risperdale (risperidone) used for?
-For agitation and calming down
Used to treat certain mental/mood disorders Can help think clearly and take part in everyday life. Belongs to the class of drugs antipsychotics.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) Definition
Chronic progressive degenerative disease, affects the myelin sheath of neurons (nerve impulses.
-Mind clear, body weak.
MS pathophysiology
-Myelin sheath breaks down causing nerves to become inflamed and oedematous, interrupts impulse to muscles.
-As disease progresses sclerorsis/ scar tissue damages nerves causing blockage and loss of muscle function in that area.
S+S of MS
Early: weakness in legs
Muscle weakness
Tingling / numb sensation
Visual disturbance (usually 1 eye at a time)
Loss of bladder / bowel control
What is the Glasgow Coma Scale used to assess?
To check LOC
Eye opening, verbal and motor responses
Treatment measures for MS
Rest
Exercise
ROM
Healthy diet
Teaching
Medication
Rehabilitation
What 2 type of medications are used in treatment of MS?
Antispasmodics / muscle relaxants (relaxes muscles to treat pain)
Anticonvulsants (to trat neurologic pain)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Or
Leu Gehrig’s disease definition and pathophysiology
Progressive degenerative condition, affects motor neurons responsible for control of voluntary muscles in brain and spinal cord
Motor neurons degenerate or die forming scar tissue, this blocks transmission of nerve impulse.
What muscles are affected by Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) ?
All muscles except heart and some GI
What does ALS cause ?
Muscle weakness and atrophy
S+S of ALS
☆Progressive muscle weakness
Slurred speech and choking / difficulty swallowing
Loss of coordination
Late: Communicate by blinking eyes, pulmonary function compromised
Management of ALS
-Emotional support of Pt / family, support groups
☆Adaptation
-Avoid aspiration
-Enteral food tubing
-Diversion activities
-Decrease / manage pain
-Avoiding infection
-Meds to relax muscles / neuropathic pain
Treatment of ALS
No cure
Tube feeding
Preventing infection
Skin care
Rehab therapy
Speech assistant
Meds
What medications are used in treatment of ALS?
Valium (Diazepam) and Baclofen to relieve muscle spasms and neuropathic pain
Rilutek to slow progression
