Parkinsons Flashcards
What is Parkinson’s Disease
A progressive neurological disorder primarily affecting motor function
Brain disease, age increases the risk, the cells that make dopamine in the brain die
Genetic mutation can increase risk
Can only ease PD, it can not be treated
Men vs women, Prevelance and incident rate
More prevalence in older age of PD in males vs females
Prevelance,: new case plus existing case
3 motor symptoms diagnosed is primarily based on
Bradykinesia, Rigidity, Tremor
Bradykinesia
Slowness of movement
Has to be present for diagnosis
Rigidity
Muscle stiffness, limiting movement
One of two has to be present
Tremor
Involuntary shaking
One of two has to be present
Bradykinesia Test and why is Bradykinesia important
Bradykinesia refers to the slowness of movement and difficulty in initiating voluntary actions, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. One way to test for bradykinesia is by assessing rapid alternating movements of the thumb and fingers:
Test Procedure: With the arm outstretched, the patient is asked to rapidly touch the thumb and fingers together. Both sides should be tested, as the condition can be asymmetrical in its early stages.
Signs: Over time, movements become slower and smaller, showing a decline in speed and amplitude.
Tips: Instruct the patient to make the movements BIG and FAST to observe changes in movement quality, which typically worsens with repetition.
Rigidity Test, difference with Splasticity
Rigidity is an increase in muscle tone that is not velocity-dependent (unlike spasticity). It often responds to medication, especially in conditions like Parkinson’s disease. To enhance or assess it, clinicians can use activation techniques:
Wrist Circumduction: Rotate the wrist passively while tapping with the opposite hand.
Cogwheel Phenomenon: A jerky, ratchet-like movement felt during passive joint motion, indicative of rigidity.
These techniques help in diagnosing and evaluating rigidity, particularly in neurodegenerative disorders.
Tremor Test and types
Tremors are involuntary rhythmic muscle contractions that can occur in various forms:
Resting Tremor: Appears when the limb is at rest, common in Parkinson’s. Ensure the patient isn’t suppressing it.
Postural Tremor: Seen when holding a position (e.g., arms outstretched). Less likely related to PD.
Action/Kinetic Tremor: Emerges during movement (e.g., finger-to-nose test). Movement worsens the tremor, and it’s often unrelated to PD.
Gait and balance Test
Sit-to-Stand Test: With arms crossed, have the patient repeatedly sit and stand. This evaluates balance and leg strength.
“Walking” Gait Analysis: Check stride length, heel strike, arm swing, asymmetry, and whether the patient freezes at turns.
Pull Test: Gently pull the patient backward. If they need more than 1-2 steps to recover balance, it’s a positive test (impaired balance).
Festinating Gait
Shuffling of steps
Parkinson’s Tremor
Resting
● large amplitude, medium
freq (3-7 Hz)
● low heritability (<10%)
● onset 55-65 (4% <50)
● levodopa
● hands>legs (less voice,
head)
● Prevalence: 0.2% (4.9% of
long term care)
Essential Tremor
Postural, Action/Kinetic ● variable amplitude, faster
freq (4-12 Hz)
● heritable (>50%)
● middle age, but across
lifespan
● drug resistant
● hands, some head/voice,
rare in legs
● Prevalence: 0.4-5.6%
Alcohol can reduce symptoms
Input structure
Caudate and the patamen, is the input structure, together they are called the striatum
Out put structure, and what does it do?
Globes pallidus, is the output, information is editing through this structure
Substantial Niagra Pars Compacta
It is the locaction of dopamine production
Alpha synuclein (dendrites
It’s a protein that clumps together to form a Lewy body ( main findings with people with Parkinson’s Disease)
Thyroxine in a control group vs PD
Thyroxine present in control group, No Enzyme present with PD
Paper airplane analogy ( early detection of PD)
Detecting misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins in fluids like CSF or blood is crucial for early Parkinson’s disease detection. These proteins accumulate abnormally, forming Lewy bodies in neurons, which disrupt brain function before motor symptoms appear. Early detection allows for potential interventions to slow disease progression.
Thalamus
relay station of all incoming motor (movement) and sensory information
Dopamine Production:
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced in various regions of the brain, including the substantia nigra in the midbrain
What is Dopamine and where is it Produced
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced in various regions of the brain, including the substantia nigra in the midbrain
Striatum
Caudate and the patamen
Direct Pathway function
Turning on the motor cortex, which is responsible for planning and executing voluntary movements.
Direct pathway steps
In the striatum, dopamine activates neurons that send inhibitory signals to the globus pallidus internus (GPi) and substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr).
GPi and SNr, in response, send inhibitory signals to the thalamus.
The thalamus, when disinhibited by reduced signals from GPi/SNr, sends excitatory signals to the motor cortex.
Excitatory signals from the thalamus to the motor cortex facilitate the initiation and execution of voluntary movements.
Dopamines connection to direct and indirect pathway
Dopamine helps facilitate direct pathway while inhibiting indirect pathway and it is released from the substantia nigra pars compacta
Indirect pathway function
The indirect pathway helps suppress unwanted movements by inhibiting the motor cortex.
Indirect path way steps
In the striatum, inhibitory signals are sent to the globus pallidus externus (GPe).
GPe then sends inhibitory signals to the subthalamic nucleus (STN).
The STN, in turn, sends excitatory signals to the globus pallidus internus (GPi) and substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr).
GPi/SNr send inhibitory signals to the thalamus.
Finally, the thalamus sends excitatory signals to the motor cortex, inhibiting movement. (Activation of inhibition)
Issue with dopamine
It cannot cross the blood brain barrier
Levodopa importance
It can cross the blood brain barrier, then an enzyme an convert it into dopamine
Levodopa issue
Too much of it will cause you to have involuntary movement, as people
Progress with Parkinson’s, the dosage must go up
On and off cycle
“On Time” symptoms is controls
“Off time” symptoms is not controlled
On:Off cycle importance
Working with clients on their on time will make things easier
On:Off cycle importance
Working with clients on their on time will make things easier
Orthostatic hypotension
↓20 mmHg systolic or
↓10 mmHg diastolic
… within 3 minutes after standing.
This drop in blood pressure can cause dizziness
Orthostatic hypotension
↓20 mmHg systolic or
↓10 mmHg diastolic
… within 3 minutes after standing.
Hohn and Yahir Scale
5 stages of Parkinson’s
Stage 1
Unilateral involvement only, usually with minimal or no functional impairment.
Hohn and Yahir Scale
5 stages of Parkinson’s
Stage 2
Bilateral (or midline) involvement, without impairment of balance.
Negative on the pull test
Hohn and Yahir Scale
5 stages of Parkinson’s
Stage 3
Bilateral: mild-to-modera te disability, impaired postural reflexes; physically independent
More one on one time
Hohn and Yahir Scale
5 stages of Parkinson’s
Stage 4
Able to walk or stand unassisted; more severe impairments
Hohn and Yahir Scale
5 stages of Parkinson’s
Stage 5
Confinement to bed or wheelchair unless aided.
No independence
Hypomimia
Reduced facial expression
Freezing
Temporary in ability to move while walking
Dyskinesia (mid stage PD)
involuntary movement
Dysphagia (Late stage PD)
Difficulty swallowing
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing