Nervous System Disorders Flashcards
Progressive degenerative disease of the brain. Most common cause of dementia for 65 y/o and older.
Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia
Permanent set of motor problems diagnosed in infants and young children. Thought to be due to damage to the motor cortex.
Cerebral Palsy
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Vary from mild foot drag and incoordination to complete
paralysis and the inability to speak. Some may have developmental delays, autism or seizures. Many are of
normal or above normal intellect.
Treatment for Cerebral Palsy
physical therapy, occupational therapy, assistive devices and drugs to control symptoms. No cure.
Seizure disorder believed to be a result of spontaneous uncontrolled electrical activity
of neurons.
Epilepsy
How is epilepsy diagnosed?
EEG (electroencephalogram)
Severe, convulsive seizure
Grand Mal
Mild (sometimes like someone is just staring) seizure.
Petit Mal
Treatment for epilepsy.
anticonvulsant medications
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Characterized by memory loss and diminished cognitive function. Tangles of fibers develop in nerve cells which interferes with brain function.
Infection or inflammation of the meninges.
meningitis
Cause of meningitis
bacteria and viral infections
Symptoms of meningitis
severe headache and stiff neck with pain.
Disorder in which myelin is destroyed, probably
by autoimmune attack. The brain, spinal cord and optic nerves are often involved.
The areas without myelin impairs or prevents
conduction of nerve impulses.
Multiple Sclerosis
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
impairments in vision, balance, speech or movement. Can be relapsing-remitting with flare-ups and remissions or chronic progressive with no remissions.
Who is most commonly affected by MS?
women under 50 years old
Brain disorder caused by the loss of
dopamine-producing neurons.
Parkinson’s Disease
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Decrease in dopamine leads to shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and get worse over time.
Later stages affect ability to chew and swallow
Contagious viral illness that in its
most severe form causes nerve
injury leading to paralysis,
difficulty breathing and
sometimes death
Poliomyelitis (Polio)
Damage to the spinal cord that
results in a loss of function, such as mobility and/or feeling
Spinal Cord Injury
paralysis of legs and lower body
paraplegia
paralysis of the right or the left half of the body (example from a stroke)
hemiplegia
paralysis of all 4 limbs
quadriplegia
inflammation of the brain
encephalitis
