neuro Flashcards
Factors leading to age related damage?
-proper nutrition-eating a healthy diet unhealthy foods can lead to disease
-physical fitness- proper physical fitness, getting enough exercise is good for maintaining health
-mental activity-stimulating brain activities such as reading a book instead of watching tv
-strong social relationships
friends
life long alliances
extended family
community membership
-remeber to keep moving
PET scans are usually the same for
individuals in their 80s and in their 20s
Degree of neuronal loss, plaques, enzymatic activity ranges from
5% to 30%
percentage of what age groups have dementia
65-75
74-85
>85
65-75=5%
75-84=20%
>85=50%
Many symptoms of demetia
speed of processing decreases:performance small, decreases in memory, perception and language.
what percent of dementia and alzheimers is genetically based
50percent
average onset of dementia and alzheimers
80’s but could be in 40’s through 60’s
Dementia
Degenerative:what is it?
progressive loss of memory and cognitive function
Dementia
related symptoms:
depression, disorientation, mood swings, personality changes, loss of bowels and bladder control,decreased concentration and communication
Dementia
when does death occur
5-10 years after diagnosis
dementia
indicators
difficulty in doing simple task, everyday task, and brain scans
Age related damage contributors
6 contributors
age at onset of damage physical brain alterations medical history genetics lifespan use of brain apparent in 50s and 60s pronounced at 70
damage in areas of the brain diencephalon and brainstem
substantia niagra and crueles lose neurons:20-40% in healthy seniors, 70% or more due to parkinson’s disease
damage in areas of the brain limbic system
hippocampus loses 5% of neurons each decade 50+ about 20% total
however net growth of dendrites occur in 40s and 50s
decreases occur in 80s and 90s neuroplasticity
other general age related damage
-DNA
-Oxidation of cells
Degeneration of Myelin
dna -damage in cells due to aging -repair mechanisms become less efficient -dna in mitochondria becomes defective oxidation of cells oxidation of proteins thought to facilitate loss of mental functions Degeneration of myelin efficiency of neural communication speed of processing and movement
autism spectrum disorder, formerly called asperger’s syndrome
social communication disorder formerly called extreme male brain
differences in male and female brain
wiring?
-male brain wired for systematizing
analysis of external world, inanimate objects,build mechanical, governmental gaming systems
-female brain wired for empathy
facial expression, nonverbal communication
foster co-coperation, and group well-being
differences in male and female
skill set
-males mathematical navigating a route spatial skills motor skills female skills -perceptual speed -verbal fluency -arithmetic calculation -recalling landmarks from a route -precision fm skills -recalling objecs and location -replacing objects in original location
brain anatomical differences men vs women
cortex?
amygdala?
corpus callosum?
areas?
men greater parietal lobe math skill
men greater amygdala vs women greater connections with amydala
women greater frontal lobe executive function
women greater corpus callosum- language literal meaning and emotional tone
broca’s/wernickes area-greater in women matures easily
in many cases behavior pathology is the result of a neurotransmitter system
antitransmitters
reuptake
down regulation
antitransmitter- break down and destroy neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft, the postsynaptic neuron can repolarize and fire again
reuptake-the presynaptic terminal can reasorb the neurotransmitter
down regulation-fewer receptor sites on the post synaptic neuron
what percent of population experience depression at some point in their lifetime
16%
incidence of affected
difference decreases after what age
2 to 1 men to women affected; differences decreases after age 55
factors of depression
heredity, physiology, diet, medical
neurotransmitters indicated in depression
serotonin, dopamine , norepinephrine
what is clinical depression
marked by a depressed mood most of the day particularly in the morning, and a loss of interest in normal activites or relationships
depression symptoms
5 main symptoms
- impaired concentration indecisiveness
- insomnia and hypersomnia
- markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities
- fatigue or loss of energy
- feelings or worthlessness or guilt
depression treatments
5 different treatment and there medications
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors-prozac, paxil, lexapro, celexa, and zoloft
- norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors-edronax
- serotonin -norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors-effexor, cymbalta-
- norepinephrine dopamine reupatake inhibitors-wellbutrin
- Trycyclics and monamine oxidase inhibitors-
Anxiety disorders what are they? what part of brain? genetic environmental origins? treatment?
panic attack, ptsd, phobias
-excessive fears, worries and distress that interfere with functioning
-amygdala and limbic system
-stressors, trauma, parenting styles
-most affective with focus on pharmacuetical and cognitive behavior intervention
-
Addiction risk influence?
risk of addiction are influenced by genetic, neurochemical, and environmental factors.
addiction process and brain structures
mesolimbic system
activation of?
mesolimbic system- encourages repetition of pleasurable behavior for survival
activation of ventral tegmental area-midbrain- action potential signal to the nucleus acumbens in the limbic system.release of dopamine also connections to the frontal cortex, motivation, and pleasure.
Tolerance
overtime substance no longer provides the same level of pleasure
Cravings
brain produces intense desire for substance
sensitazation
during abstinence brain adapts by becoming more sensitized, which results in heightened pleasure and possible relapse
primary neural pathway in addiction
primary transmitter
ventral tegmental area of the - midbrain projects to frontal cortex
primary transmitter is dopamine
drugs of abuse increase
affect the?
dopamine levels, affect the mesolimbic reward system with greater intensity and persistence than other pleasurable activities
priming
- associate euphoria with people and things involved
- other compulsive behaviors:drugs, gambling, eating disorders, shopping, kleptomania, sex
low levels of dopamine =
greater risk for substance abuse
addiction treatment
naltrexone- prevents drug from reaching neurologic target
blocks receptors
methadone-mimics drugs effects to reduce cravings low level receptor opiod activation
Areas of the brain involved in pleasure?
midbrain, amygdala; connections with hippocampus
