Parkinsons Flashcards
What is a tremor?
Rhythmic, involuntary movement, common in Parkinson’s.
What is chorea?
Irregular, rapid, jerky movements that impair voluntary control, associated with Huntington’s.
What is ballismus?
Violent, flinging limb movements caused by subthalamic nucleus damage.
What is athetosis?
Slow, writhing movements, typically in hands and fingers.
What is dystonia?
Sustained, involuntary muscle contractions causing abnormal postures or repetitive movements.
What is the function of the basal ganglia?
Regulates motor activities by inhibiting or facilitating signals.
What is the function of the motor cortex?
Executes voluntary movements.
What is the function of the thalamus?
Relays sensory and motor signals between the basal ganglia and motor cortex.
What is the pathology of Parkinson’s disease?
Dopaminergic neuron degeneration in the substantia nigra, reducing dopamine in the basal ganglia.
What is the pathology of Huntington’s disease?
Loss of GABAergic neurons in the basal ganglia, resulting in excessive movement.
What are the common signs of Parkinson’s disease?
Resting tremors, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability.
What are risk factors for Parkinson’s disease?
Age 60+, male, SNCA gene mutation, exposure to pesticides or heavy metals.
What is the role of alpha-synuclein in Parkinson’s?
Involved in synaptic vesicle regulation; misfolded forms create Lewy bodies leading to neurodegeneration.
What are non-pharmacologic treatments for Parkinson’s?
Exercise, physical therapy (balance and gait training), and occupational therapy.
What is the role of levodopa in Parkinson’s treatment?
Converts to dopamine in the brain, restoring dopaminergic activity.
What is the role of carbidopa in Parkinson’s treatment?
Inhibits peripheral conversion of levodopa, increasing its bioavailability and reducing nausea.
What are common side effects of levodopa?
Nausea/vomiting, dyskinesia, and hallucinations.
How are levodopa side effects managed?
Antiemetics for nausea, dose adjustments for dyskinesia, and pimavanserin for hallucinations.
What enzyme converts levodopa to dopamine?
Dopa decarboxylase.
What do MAO-B inhibitors do?
Reduce dopamine breakdown (e.g., selegiline).
What do COMT inhibitors do?
Prevent peripheral breakdown of levodopa (e.g., entacapone).
What are “On-Off” periods in Parkinson’s treatment?
Fluctuations between mobility and immobility, managed by dose adjustments or continuous infusions.
What is essential tremor, and how is it treated?
Symmetrical tremor treated with beta-blockers.
What is benign hereditary chorea, and how is it treated?
Childhood-onset, non-progressive disorder treated with tetrabenazine.
What is tardive dyskinesia, and how is it treated?
Repetitive involuntary movements from antipsychotics, treated with valbenazine.
What are common causes of cerebral palsy?
Perinatal trauma, anoxia, and infection.
How is cerebral palsy assessed in infants?
Abnormal reflexes, delayed milestones, and hyper/hypotonia.
How is cerebral palsy treated?
Botulinum toxin, physical therapy, and intrathecal baclofen.
What is the most common type of muscular dystrophy?
Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
What gene is involved in Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
Dystrophin gene mutation.
What is Gower’s sign?
Using hands to push on legs to stand, due to weak proximal muscles.
What causes Huntington’s disease, and how is it treated?
GABA neuron loss, treated with tetrabenazine.
What causes ALS, and how is it treated?
Motor neuron degeneration, treated with riluzole.
What causes Alzheimer’s disease, and how is it treated?
Amyloid plaques and tau tangles; treated with cholinesterase inhibitors.
