Neuro Flashcards
How does Parkinson’s disease present?
TRAP
Tremor; asymmetrical at presentation, pill rolling, high frequency, at rest
Rigidity; stiffness, cogwheel, across whole range of joint movement
Akinesia/Bradykinesia; slowed movement esp fine motor movement, facial expression, blinking, less hand gesturing etc.
Postural instability; Shuffling gait, reduced arm swing, problems with feet
What are atypical parkinsonian syndromes?
Multiple systems atrophy
Progressive Supranuclear palsy
Corticobasal syndrome
What is the histology of Parkinson’s?
Loss of dopaminergic neurones in substantia nigra
excess cholinergic activity
lewy bodies
What is the treatment for Parkinson’s?
MAO-B inhibitors; selegeline
Dopaminergic agents; Ldopa+carbidopa and dopamine agonists
Amantadine
What is the pharmacological treatment for Alzheimer’s?
Anticholinesterase; donepezil, galantamine, rivastagmine
NMDA receptor blocker; memantine
Antidepressants and antipsychotics
Treatment for vascular dementia
Reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol
Control risk factors i.e. obesity and quit smoking
Investigations for vascular dementia
FBC, ESR, blood glucose, renal and LFTs
How does fronto-temporal dementia present?
Behavioural changes
Personality alteration
Language difficulty
Tests for fronto-temporal dementia
CT/MRI to assess damage, FBC, mental testing
Treatment for fronto-temporal dementia
Supportive care + benzodiazepene or neuroleptic
SSRIs to reduce impulsive behaviour
How is Lewy Body dementia diagnosed?
Doctor’s best judgement based on symptom onset
May order; FBC, metabolic panel, serum TSH, serum vit b12
How is lewy body dementia treated?
If behavioural disturbance; benzodiazepene
If not behavioural disturbance; cholinesterase inhibitors, SSRI if depression, clonazepam to help REM sleep disorder, carbidopa/levodopa for motor symptoms
Describe progressive supranuclear palsy presentation
problems with walking, balance and eye movements
altered behaviour
muscle stiffness
dysphagia and speech problems
how is PSP diagnosed?
rule out similar conditions
How is PSP treated?
Levodopa
Antidepressants
walking aids
special glasses
Describe MS presentation
Multiple Sclerosis
fatigue, difficulty walking
vision problems
problems controlling bladder
muscle stiffness/spasms
Describe MS treatment
Relapses with corticosteroids; methylprednisolone
Beta interferons; glatiramir acetate, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, alemtuzumab, natalizumab
Lifestyle mod i.e. physiotherapy
Low dose anticonvulsants
How is MS diagnosed?
MRI brain and spinal cord
FBC
Met panel
CSF evaluation
evoked potentials
anti-neuromyelitis antibody
How does cauda equina syndrome present?
Lower back pain into legs, perianal numbness, faecal/urine incontinence
How is cauda equina syndrome diagnosed?
MRI spinal cord
CT myelography
How is cauda equina syndrome treated?
Decompression of spinal nerves; lumbar decompression surgery
How does myaesthenia gravis present?
muscle weakness and fatigue progressive through day
Eyelid drooping, facial expression, chewing, swallowing affected
Myaesthenia gravis investigations
serum ACh receptor antibody analysis muscle specific tyrosine kinase antibodies serum pulm function tests CT chest Single fibre EMG