Neuropsych disorders

Question 1

Parkinson’s disease

Answer 1

A progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement

Develops gradually with a mild tremor, and progresses to stiff and/or uncontrolled movement

Speech can be slurred or soft

Question 2

Parkinson’s disease symptoms

Answer 2

Symptoms are caused by reduced dopamine, but exact causes of neural degradation are unknown

Question 3

Parkinson’s disease treatment

Answer 3

Treatment with levodopa, a compound that is converted to dopamine in the brain, can attenuate symptoms

Question 4

Animal models

Answer 4

Animal models have made significant progress with knowledge of the disease and pathology

Question 5

One technique for studying Parkinson’s disease

Answer 5

Using 6-hydroxydopamine lesions (6-OHDA) to remove dopamine and mimic the disease

Question 6

Classic motor deficits of PD don’t usually appear until…

Answer 6

Later in the progression of the disease

Question 7

New work with animals shows that…

Answer 7

We may be able to track changes in vocalizations as an earlier marker of PD

Question 8

MPTP model of Parkinson’s

Answer 8

A group of young drug addicts appeared at a hospital with severe parkinsonism

They had all used a new “synthetic heroin”

MPTP can be given to animal models to recreate many of the symptoms

Question 9

MPTP model has been very helpful for _________, but can’t tell us about ________

Answer 9

developing treatments, causation

Question 10

Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 10

Average age of onset is 65, although early onset Alzheimer’s can occur in a person’s 40s or 50s

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and decline in other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life

Question 11

Alzheimer’s symptoms

Answer 11

Symptoms include memory loss and confusion

Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time

Question 12

Alzheimer’s prevalence

Answer 12

Accounts for 60-80 percent of dementia cases

One-in-three seniors dies with a form of this disease

Question 13

Alzheimer’s and the brain: plaques

Answer 13

Deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid that build up in the spaces between nerve cells

Question 14

Alzheimer’s and the brain: tangles

Answer 14

Twisted fibers of another protein called tau that build up inside cells and disrupts transportation of essential nutrients

Question 15

Alzheimer’s risk factors

Answer 15

Age, family history, genetics

Question 16

Alzheimer’s risk genes

Answer 16

Risk genes increase the likelihood of developing the disease, but don’t guarantee it will happen

Question 17

Alzheimer’s deterministic genes

Answer 17

Directly cause a disease, (amyloid precursor protein, APP; presenilin-1, PS-1)

Called autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease, or familial Alzheimer’s disease; less than 5% of cases

Question 18

Who is Alzheimer’s most prevalent in

Answer 18

Black and Hispanic adults are at increased risk for developing dementia

Each additional year of education is associated with a decrease in the risk of developing dementia

Much more prevalent in women

Question 19

Major depressive disorder

Answer 19

A mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities

Unable to “snap out of it”

Question 20

Causes of depression

Answer 20

1. Biological differences
2. Brain chemistry
3. Hormones
4. Inherited traits

Question 21

Treatments for depression

Answer 21

Medications (SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs, MAOIs)

Other treatments include counseling, changes in lifestyle (like diet and exercise), or use of supplements (St. John’s wort, SAMe)

Question 22

Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 22

A CNS demyelinating disorder characterized by inflammatory plaques in white matter

1 in 3,000 people are diagnosed in at-risk regions and more common in women

Question 23

Multiple Sclerosis onset

Answer 23

Begins with inflammatory phase where inflammation drives myelin loss

Question 24

Progression of multiple sclerosis

Answer 24

Neurodegenerative phase follows with chronic axonal degeneration and gliosis

Loss of myelin insulation results in reorganization of ion channels, abnormal electrical conduction

Question 25

Multiple Sclerosis symptoms

Answer 25

Dependent on location of lesions

1. Issues with vision
2. Weakness, numbness, tingling (paresthesia) in limbs
3. Dizziness and fatigue
4. Balance problems
5. Poor bladder/bowel control
6. Altered mood/personality changes

Question 26

Multiple Sclerosis causes

Answer 26

Overall: Uncertain
1. Immune-mediated inflammatory disease
2. Genetic susceptibility
3. Vitamin D deficiency

Question 27

Multiple Sclerosis treatments

Answer 27

Medications:
- Immunotherapy
- Interferons
- Synthetic polypeptide
- Monoclonal antibody to VLA-4 adhesion molecule
- Chemotherapeutic agent

AND oral agents

Question 28

Immunotherapy

Answer 28

All injections of some sort, either in the muscle or directly infused into the blood stream

Question 29

Interferons

Answer 29

A group of proteins that help the body’s immune system fight disease
Reduce the frequency/severity of relapses

Question 30

Synthetic polypeptide

Answer 30

Block immune attack on myelin

Question 31

Monoclonal antibody to VLA-4 adhesion molecule

Answer 31

Blocks movement of damaging immune cells from bloodstream to brain/spinal cord

Question 32

Chemotherapeutic agent

Answer 32

Immunosuppressant but very harmful to heart and rarely prescribed

Question 33

Oral Agents

Answer 33

Pills taken once or twice per day

A bunch of different things that reduce the relapse rate, but are associated with other serious side effects

Question 34

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 34

A serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others

Question 35

The term “spectrum” refers to

Answer 35

The wide range of symptoms and severity

Question 36

Autism Spectrum Disorder symptoms

Answer 36

Resisting cuddling or prefers to play alone, fails to respond to his or her own name

Doesn’t speak or has delayed speech, can’t start a conversation or keep one going, speaks with abnormal tone or rhythm

Doesn’t understand simple questions or directions, doesn’t express emotions or feelings, appears unaware of others’ feelings

May be fascinated by details of an object or patterning behavior, problems with coordination/movement, exaggerated body language

May be unusually sensitive to lights or sounds

Question 37

Autism Spectrum Disorder causes

Answer 37

Genes + environmental influence

Researchers are still exploring the potential of other factors, such as viral infections, air pollutants, and/or high levels of testosterone in utero may trigger autism or increase susceptibility

Question 38

Autism Spectrum Disorder treatment

Answer 38

There is no cure, but intensive, early treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children

• Behavior and communication therapies
• Educational therapies
• Family therapies
• Medications