Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation Flashcards
What is neurology?
Neurology is the management of diseases of the nervous system, involving diagnosis, pharmacological and behavioral management, and prognosis.
What does “neurology” mean in Greek?
“Neuron,” meaning “nerve.”
What is neurology’s role in the UK healthcare system?
It is a tertiary referral service requiring a multidisciplinary approach.
Name some common neurological disorders.
Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
How can neurological disorders impact patients?
They may struggle with speech, swallowing, memory loss, and other cognitive or motor functions.
Who are the core professionals in a multidisciplinary neurology team?
Neurologist, neuroradiologist, neurophysiologist, neuropathologist, and neurosurgeon.
Name additional healthcare professionals involved in neurology.
SLT (Speech-Language Therapist), physiotherapist, OT (Occupational Therapist), dietician, neuropsychologist, social worker, ward nurses, and specialist nurses.
What is the SLT’s role in neurology?
SLTs assist with differential diagnosis, assess the impact on patients, provide therapy, and evaluate progress for speech, language, and swallowing issues.
How many lobes does the cerebral cortex have and what are they?
Four lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.
What are the functions of the frontal lobe?
Decision-making, problem-solving, attention, speech production, emotional control, and body movement.
What does the occipital lobe do?
Processes visual information, including color, motion, and orientation.
What are the functions of the parietal lobe?
Processes sensory information like touch, pain, and temperature; helps with spatial orientation.
What does the temporal lobe control?
Language comprehension, memory, hearing, and sound-to-visual interpretation.
What are the main parts of a neuron?
Cell body, dendrites, nucleus, axon, myelin sheaths, and axon terminals.
What is the difference between sensory and motor neurons?
Sensory neurons carry impulses to the CNS and are unipolar, while motor neurons carry impulses from the CNS to effectors and are multipolar.
Where are sensory neurons located?
In the dorsal root ganglion of the spinal nerve.
Where are motor neurons located?
In the ventral root ganglion of the spinal cord.
What is an interneuron?
A neuron that connects sensory and motor neurons within the CNS.
Define “neurological rehabilitation.”
- An educational, interdisciplinary process
- “disabled person is helped to acquire knowledge and skills to maximise their physical, psychological and social functioning
What are the key goals of neurological rehabilitation?
To reduce activity limitations, promote social participation, and minimize complications.
What are the basic approaches in neurorehabilitation?
Reducing disability, acquiring new skills and strategies, and altering the physical/social environment.
What are neurodegenerative disorders?
Chronic, incurable conditions that progressively damage the nervous system.
Name some examples of neurodegenerative disorders.
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and motor neuron disease.
What is the primary treatment goal for neurodegenerative disorders?
To treat symptoms and slow progression to improve quality of life.
What are some tasks in the rehabilitation process?
Working with patients and families, providing accurate information, and setting realistic rehabilitation goals.
How does neurorehabilitation support individuals with non-progressive impairments?
Through varied improvement levels: full recovery, steady improvement, or managing residual disability.
What are common cognitive responses to injury in neurorehabilitation?
Appraising injury implications, using coping strategies, and managing self-esteem changes.
What are some emotional responses to physical injuries?
Denial, anger, depression, acceptance, and grief.
Name some behavioral responses patients may exhibit during rehabilitation.
Coping through social support, isolating, or learning about their condition to adhere to rehabilitation programs.
What is the primary function of sensory neurons?
Sensory neurons carry sensory information from the sensory organs to the central nervous system (CNS).
What is the primary function of motor neurons?
Motor neurons carry impulses from the CNS to muscles or glands, enabling movement or response.
Approximately how many sensory neurons are in the human body?
There are about 10 million sensory neurons in the human body.
Where are motor neurons located?
In the ventral root ganglion of the spinal cord.
What type of structure do motor neurons have?
They are multipolar, with multiple dendrites and one axon.
Approximately how many motor neurons are in the human body?
There are about half a million motor neurons in the human body.
In which direction do signals travel in sensory vs. motor neurons?
Signals in sensory neurons travel toward the CNS, while signals in motor neurons travel away from the CNS to effectors.
What does “client-centered goals” mean in neurological rehabilitation?
It means focusing on the individual needs and priorities of the patient to create personalized rehabilitation goals.
Why is a client-centered approach important in rehabilitation?
It enhances patient motivation and engagement by aligning therapy with what is meaningful to the patient.
What is the focus of “functional practice” in rehabilitation?
Emphasizing real-life, practical activities that aid in daily living skills and independence.
Why is functional practice beneficial in neurorehabilitation?
It helps patients regain autonomy in essential tasks, making therapy more relevant to their everyday life.
What does “active participation” refer to in neurorehabilitation?
The patient’s active involvement in their rehabilitation process and decision-making.
How does active participation impact rehabilitation outcomes?
It increases motivation and adherence, leading to more successful outcomes.
Why are “repetition and intensity” important in neurorehabilitation?
Repeated practice and consistent intensity help strengthen neural pathways, enhancing skill retention and recovery.
What is the benefit of repetitive practice for patients?
It solidifies motor and cognitive skills, promoting long-term improvement.
What neurological diseases are leading causes of mortality and disability in older adults?
Dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease.
How do stroke, Parkinson’s, and dementia interact in terms of risk?
Stroke and Parkinson’s patients are at increased risk for dementia, and dementia patients are at increased risk of stroke.
How do funding and research efforts for neurological diseases compare to those for cancer and heart disease?
Neurological diseases are understudied in prevention and underfunded compared to cancer and heart disease.
What was the purpose of the Rotterdam study?
To study the lifetime risk of dementia, stroke, and parkinsonism over time in a large population sample
How many individuals were included in the Rotterdam study, and what were the inclusion criteria?
12,102 individuals (57.7% women) aged 45 or older, all free of dementia, stroke, and parkinsonism at baseline.
What were the main aspects studied in relation to dementia, stroke, and parkinsonism?
Lifetime risk, co-occurrence, and disease-specific risk for these conditions by age and gender.
How did researchers project the effects of hypothetical preventive strategies?
By estimating the impact on lifetime risk if disease onset was delayed by 1, 2, or 3 years.
Over the 26-year follow-up, how many individuals were diagnosed with dementia, stroke, and parkinsonism?
1,489 with dementia, 1,285 with stroke, and 263 with parkinsonism.
How common was it for individuals to be diagnosed with multiple diseases?
14.6% (438 individuals) were diagnosed with multiple neurological diseases.
What was the observed gender difference in co-occurrence of stroke and dementia?
Women were nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with both stroke and dementia in their lifetime.
What was the lifetime risk of developing any of the three diseases at age 45 for women and men?
48.2% for women and 36.2% for men
Which disease showed the highest lifetime risk difference between men and women?
Dementia, with a significantly higher risk in women compared to men.
How did lifetime risks for stroke and parkinsonism compare between men and women?
The risk for stroke was nearly identical (19.0% for women, 18.9% for men), and for parkinsonism was similar (3.3% for women, 3.6% for men).
What is the estimated lifetime risk for women versus men in developing dementia, stroke, or parkinsonism?
Approximately one in two for women and one in three for men.
In terms of co-occurrence, how does gender affect the likelihood of developing both stroke and dementia?
Women are twice as likely as men to develop both conditions.
What does the study suggest about the potential for reducing these risks?
The risks are highly amenable to preventive interventions at a population level.
