Parkinsons Flashcards

1
Q

What is a tremor?

A

Rhythmic, involuntary movement, common in Parkinson’s.

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2
Q

What is chorea?

A

Irregular, rapid, jerky movements that impair voluntary control, associated with Huntington’s.

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3
Q

What is ballismus?

A

Violent, flinging limb movements caused by subthalamic nucleus damage.

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4
Q

What is athetosis?

A

Slow, writhing movements, typically in hands and fingers.

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5
Q

What is dystonia?

A

Sustained, involuntary muscle contractions causing abnormal postures or repetitive movements.

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6
Q

What is the function of the basal ganglia?

A

Regulates motor activities by inhibiting or facilitating signals.

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7
Q

What is the function of the motor cortex?

A

Executes voluntary movements.

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8
Q

What is the function of the thalamus?

A

Relays sensory and motor signals between the basal ganglia and motor cortex.

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9
Q

What is the pathology of Parkinson’s disease?

A

Dopaminergic neuron degeneration in the substantia nigra, reducing dopamine in the basal ganglia.

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10
Q

What is the pathology of Huntington’s disease?

A

Loss of GABAergic neurons in the basal ganglia, resulting in excessive movement.

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11
Q

What are the common signs of Parkinson’s disease?

A

Resting tremors, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability.

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12
Q

What are risk factors for Parkinson’s disease?

A

Age 60+, male, SNCA gene mutation, exposure to pesticides or heavy metals.

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13
Q

What is the role of alpha-synuclein in Parkinson’s?

A

Involved in synaptic vesicle regulation; misfolded forms create Lewy bodies leading to neurodegeneration.

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14
Q

What are non-pharmacologic treatments for Parkinson’s?

A

Exercise, physical therapy (balance and gait training), and occupational therapy.

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15
Q

What is the role of levodopa in Parkinson’s treatment?

A

Converts to dopamine in the brain, restoring dopaminergic activity.

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16
Q

What is the role of carbidopa in Parkinson’s treatment?

A

Inhibits peripheral conversion of levodopa, increasing its bioavailability and reducing nausea.

17
Q

What are common side effects of levodopa?

A

Nausea/vomiting, dyskinesia, and hallucinations.

18
Q

How are levodopa side effects managed?

A

Antiemetics for nausea, dose adjustments for dyskinesia, and pimavanserin for hallucinations.

19
Q

What enzyme converts levodopa to dopamine?

A

Dopa decarboxylase.

20
Q

What do MAO-B inhibitors do?

A

Reduce dopamine breakdown (e.g., selegiline).

21
Q

What do COMT inhibitors do?

A

Prevent peripheral breakdown of levodopa (e.g., entacapone).

22
Q

What are “On-Off” periods in Parkinson’s treatment?

A

Fluctuations between mobility and immobility, managed by dose adjustments or continuous infusions.

23
Q

What is essential tremor, and how is it treated?

A

Symmetrical tremor treated with beta-blockers.

24
Q

What is benign hereditary chorea, and how is it treated?

A

Childhood-onset, non-progressive disorder treated with tetrabenazine.

25
Q

What is tardive dyskinesia, and how is it treated?

A

Repetitive involuntary movements from antipsychotics, treated with valbenazine.

26
Q

What are common causes of cerebral palsy?

A

Perinatal trauma, anoxia, and infection.

27
Q

How is cerebral palsy assessed in infants?

A

Abnormal reflexes, delayed milestones, and hyper/hypotonia.

28
Q

How is cerebral palsy treated?

A

Botulinum toxin, physical therapy, and intrathecal baclofen.

29
Q

What is the most common type of muscular dystrophy?

A

Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

30
Q

What gene is involved in Duchenne muscular dystrophy?

A

Dystrophin gene mutation.

31
Q

What is Gower’s sign?

A

Using hands to push on legs to stand, due to weak proximal muscles.

32
Q

What causes Huntington’s disease, and how is it treated?

A

GABA neuron loss, treated with tetrabenazine.

33
Q

What causes ALS, and how is it treated?

A

Motor neuron degeneration, treated with riluzole.

34
Q

What causes Alzheimer’s disease, and how is it treated?

A

Amyloid plaques and tau tangles; treated with cholinesterase inhibitors.