Neuro pathology Flashcards
What structures make up the basal ganglia?
Striatum (Caudate and Putamen)
Globus Pallidus
Subthalamic nucleus
Substantia nigra
Explain what dopamine pathways do and the 3 main ones
They are neuronal connections in which dopamine (a neurotransmitter) travels to areas of the brain and body to convey important information
1. Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathways
This pathway is highly involved in dopamine’s most commonly thought of function: pleasure and reward.
2. Mesocortical Dopamine Pathways
This pathway is highly involved in cognition, working memory, and decision making
3. Nigrostriatal Dopamine Pathways
This pathway is involved in motor planning and movement control
Describe the circuitry of the basal ganglia
Receives info from several sources, including the cerebral cortex. The input info enters via the straitum and leaves via the Globus Pallidus and feeds the info to the cortex via the thalamus.
Provides a feedback circuit.
Briefly describe what causes Parkinsons Disease.
There is a programeddestructionof>70%of neurons resultingin depletion of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the substantianigra in the basal ganglia
What are the 3 stages of PD?
- Preclinical
neurodegeneration presentbut asymptomatic (no symptoms) - Prodromal Parkin’s disease
motor and non-motorsymptoms arepresent with clinical diagnosis - Clinical Parkinson’s Disease
bradykinesia begins (slowness of movement)
What are some clinical features of PD and what causes them to occur?
Large numbers of dopamine-producing neurons are damaged, so communication across neurons in this circuit is disrupted and the motor symptoms of PD appear
- Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
- Rigidity (stiffness)
- Tremor
- Postural instability (flexed posture)
- Gait (short step length)
Name some non-motor features of PD
- Neuropsychiatric symptoms: Depression, Anxiety
- SleepDisorders:restless legs,insomnia
- AutonomicSymptoms: bladder andbowel,excessive sweating
- Gastrointestinal:dibbling,constipation
- Fatigue, weight loss
What can physios offer to those with PD?
Muscle weakness Stiffness Falls and Fractures Balance Functional practice Pain
What is included in a subjective assessment of PD?
- Expectations, priorities
- HPC
- previous treatments,(freezing, stiffness, slowness, falls/ gait,tremor) body function/structures, activities, participation. Non-motorquestions. - SH
- support, carers, environment - PMH
- diabetes, cardiac, depression,surgery - DH
- PD medication& timings
What is included in an objective assessment of PD?
- Observation during functional activities
- tremor, bradykinesia, balance, vision, speech, hearing - Range of movement and activity/power
- trunk, LL and UL. - Coordination
- finger tonose - Balance
- sitting balance, standing balance, move outside BoS - Gait
- freezing,dual tasking,outdoor/ uneven - Functional
- on/off floor,rolling, ly-sit,running, cycling,
Explain what MS is and who it is most common in
Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive long-term neurologicaldisorder of theCNS
Higher levels of incidencein North America and Europe.
Explain the pathology of MS
- An autoimmune response, attacking myelin resulting ineither areduction or complete loss ofnerve conduction
- Lymphocytescross the blood-brain barrierand targetmyelin leading to inflammatory response
- Resulting inplaques throughout the CNS
Describe the classification of MS
RelapseRemitting: around 90% of patients initially have relapsing-remitting disease, most of them ultimately developing secondary progression.
Around 10% of patients have primary progressive multiple sclerosis, for which there is currently no disease-modifying treatment.
How can MS be diagnosed?
The patient will present with neurological symptoms and signs
MRI is central now to the diagnosis
Cerebrospinalfluid via a lumbar puncture can be reviewed for the presence of inflammation.
Name some symptoms of MS
Numbness and tingling (63.5%) Fatigue (40.1%) Walking difficulty (48.9%) Depression (14.7%) Weakness (25.3%)