T2: Neuro System (Ch. 24) Flashcards
Loss of nerve cell ___
mass
___ weight decreases
Brain
___ of the brain and spinal cord
Atrophy
Number of ___ declines.
dendrites
Demyelination of cells causes:
- Slower nerve conduction
- Response and reaction times are slower
- Reflexes become weaker
There is plaques, ___, and atrophy of the brain
tangles
Free ___ accumulate
radicals
Decrease in cerebral blood flow by __%
20%
__ __ accumulate in blood vessels
Fatty deposits
Ability to ___ declines with age
compensate
The connection and communication of nerves
dendrites
Intellectual performance maintained until at least ___ years of age
80
Slowing in the central ___
processing
There is a delay in time required to __ __.
perform tasks
Verbal skills maintained until age __.
70
Number & sensitivity of sensory receptors, ___, and neurons decrease
dermatomes
There is a ___ of tactile sensation.
Dulling
Decline in the function of cranial nerves affecting __ and __.
taste and smell
T/F: Cerebral blood flow decreases by 50% in older adults
False- 20%
Many neurologic disorders occur for reasons _____
beyond a person’s control
What’re some indications of neuro problems?
- New headaches that occur in the early morning or interrupt sleep
- deafness or ringing in ears
- altered LOC
- clumsiness
- personality changes
What are some factors that affect neurological function?
- high BP
- increased age
- smoking
What disease affects ability of the central nervous system (CNS) to control body movements?
Parkinsons disease (PD)
Signs of Parkinson’s Disease:
Tremors & shuffling gait
Nursing interventions for Parkinson’s Disease:
Educate
Psychosocial
Physical
Education (about disease & management)
Psychosocial (prevent tension & frustration)
Physical (preserve max level of patient independence)
Goal of Parkinson’s treatment:
maximum level of independence preserved
T/F: Secondary symptoms of PD include depression, sleep disturbances, dementia, drooling, and dysphagia
True
What are some secondary symptoms of PD?
depression, sleep disturbances, dementia, forced eyelid closure, drooling, dysphagia, constipation, shortness of breath, urinary hesitancy, urinary urgency, and reduced interest in sex.
Temporary or intermittent reduction in cerebral perfusion
TIA
Recovery for a TIA?
within a day
TIA’s lead to an increased risk of __ __
cerebrovascular accident
T/F: Signs and symptoms of a transient ischemic attack can last for several days and complete recovery is usual within 1 week.
False
Third leading cause of death in older adults
Cerebrovascular Accident
2 types of cerebrovascular accident?
- ischemic
- hemorrhagic
What is an ischemic CVA?
caused by partial or complete cerebral thrombosis
Which is the most common type of cerebrovascular accident?
ischemic
What is an hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident caused by?
ruptured blood vessel
Warning signs of a cerebrovascular accident and a TIA?
lightheaded, dizzy, headache, drop attack
What is a drop attack?
Caused by a complete muscular flaccidity in the legs, without an alteration in consciousness (A fall caused by flaccidity in the legs)
Signs and symptoms of a CV accident depend on ___.
area of brain affected
TIA signs and symptoms:
3
hemiplegia, aphasia, & hemianopsia
After patient stabilization of CV accident, focus is on __.
rehabilitation
During rehabilitation, problems vary depending on the ___ affected.
side of the brain
Nursing interventions are aimed at: (2)
promoting maximum levels of independence, preventing injury
T/F: Persons who have experienced a cerebrovascular accident may experience depression and irritability toward others.
true
__ changes often accompany neurologic problems.
Personality
Patients may become __ as they realize their limitations and become __ by their need to be dependent on others
depressed
frustrated
How to prevent injury for neuro conditions:
- High risk for accidents
- Avoiding hazards
- Safety considerations
- Evaluate the environment for danger
- Prevention of complications
Numbness on one side
Hemianesthesia
decreased vision or blindness in half of one eye or the same half of both eyes
hemianopsia
dizziness
vertigo
trouble speaking
dysphagia
unable to project or understand others
aphasia
4 treatments for Parkinsons disease?
- Dopamine Agonists
- Anticholinergic medications
- Mono-oxidase inhibitors & catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors
- Technologies to control symptoms
Treatments for Parkinsons disease:
-Stimulate dopamine receptors
Dopamine Agonists
Treatments for Parkinsons disease:
-Decrease acetylcholine in the brain & restore normal neurotransmitter’s balance (can make glaucoma worse)
Anticholinergic medications
Treatments for Parkinsons disease:
-Control symptoms
Mono-oxidase inhibitors & catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors
Treatments for Parkinsons disease:
-Deep brain stimulation
Technologies to control symptoms
weakness on one side of the body
Hemiparesis
paralysis on ONE side of the body.
Hemiplegia
___: stroke; interruption in blood supply to the brain
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
__ __: progressive degeneration of neurons in the basal ganglia resulting in the reduced production of dopamine
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease affects the ability of the central nervous system to control body movements as a result of impaired function of __ __ in the midbrain.
basal ganglia
Parkinson’s occurs when neurons that produce dopamine in the substantia nigra __ or become __.
die
impaired
Parkinson’s disease is more common in ___ and occurs most frequently after the __ decade of life.
men
fifth
The incidence of PD rises with __, although most cases have been diagnosed by the time people reach their ___ decade of life.
age
seventh
Although its exact cause is unknown, this disease is thought to be associated with a history of exposure to toxins, encephalitis, and cerebrovascular disease, especially ___.
arteriosclerosis
A finding in people with Parkinson’s disease compared with individuals who have other causes of tremors is the presence of the __ __, an intracellular inclusion body, in the brain.
Lewy body
The death of substantia nigra cells within the basal ganglia leads to a significant reduction in ___, which is responsible for the symptoms.
dopamine
While they are taking levodopa, patients should avoid foods that are high in __ __,
vitamin B6
While they are taking levodopa, patients should avoid foods such as:
avocados, lentils, and lima beans, because they will counteract the drug.
__ __ __ has become the surgical treatment of choice for PD because it is effective, does not destroy brain tissue, is reversible, and can be adjusted as the disease advances.
Deep brain stimulation
___ are a particular risk of older persons with Parkinson’s disease.
Contractures
As the disease PD progresses, the patient requires increased ___.
assistance
(TIA) Hyperextension and flexion of the head, such as when an individual falls asleep in a chair, can impair __ __ __.
cerebral blood flow
When I comes to TIA’s, what are some examples of ways to decrease cerebral circulation?
- Reduced blood pressure resulting from anemia and certain drugs (e.g., diuretics and antihypertensives
- cigarette smoking; due to its vasoconstrictive effect,
- sudden standing from a prone position.
Hemiparesis, hemianesthesia, aphasia, unilateral loss of vision, diplopia, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and dysphagia are among the manifestations of a __.
TIA
A significant concern regarding TIAs is that they increase the patient’s risk of sustaining a ____.
cerebrovascular accident (CVA).
Major signs of a CVA tend to include __, __, and __.
hemiplegia, aphasia, and hemianopsia.
Controlling ___ is important in reducing stroke risk in older adults
hypertension
In the acute phase of a CVA, nursing efforts have the following aims:
- Maintain a patent airway.
- Provide adequate nutrition and hydration.
- Monitor neurologic and vital signs.
- Prevent complications associated with immobility.
The patient with expressive aphasia will be able to understand commands but will not be able to:
put symbols together into an intelligent speech form
