Neurology

Question 1

What are neurological Diseases?

Answer 1

Nearly all neurological disorder will have a direct impact on an individual’s
nutritional status at some point during the course of the disease:

• Stoke (CVA)
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Motor Neuron Disease (MND)
• Huntington’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease (PD)/Alzheimer’s disease

Question 2

What are the symptoms of neurological Diseases?

Answer 2

Paralysis
Immobility
Abnormal motor function
Neuropsychological disturbances
Oropharyngeal dysphagia
Dysphasia (comprehension &/or generation of speech)

Question 3

What are the two main nutrition issues with neurological Diseases?

Answer 3

Dysphagia [Dys (disordered), Phagia (Greek: ‘eating’)]– difficulty or discomfort in swallowing, as a symptom of disease (Oxford Dictionary)

Dysphasia language disorder marked by deficiency in the generation of speech, and sometimes also in its comprehension, due to brain disease or damage

Question 4

What is MND?

Answer 4

Motor Neuron Disease

Characterised by degeneration of the motor neurons in brain, brain stem and spinal cord leading to weakness and wasting of muscles.

Symptoms include impaired fine finger movement and dexterity, wasting of the limbs and feet, weakness in the neck and stiff fingers.

Question 5

What is Huntington’s Disease?

Answer 5

Genetic neurodegenerative disorder caused by a faulty copy of a gene on chromosome

Progressive movement disorders, speech difficulties, mental deterioration and cognitive decline associated with dementia.

Question 6

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Answer 6

Disease of the white matter of the CNS affecting both the brain and spinal cord.

Immune system attacks the protective myelin sheath leading to impaired nerve transmission.

Symptoms: muscle weakness, spasticity, ataxia, tremor, neuropathic pain.

Question 7

What is a stoke?

Answer 7

Ischemic stroke (~70% of all strokes) – obstruction of cerebral blood flow usually by a thrombus
(blood clot)

Haemorrhagic stroke – rupture of weakened or damaged blood vessel causing bleeding

Clinical effects include:
• Weakness, paralysis of muscles down one side of the body
• Speech difficulties
• Dysphagia
• Impaired cognition