Test 3 Ch 26- Degenerative Diseases and the CNS Flashcards
Name 4 different degenerative diseases
MS (multiple sclerosis), PD (parkinson’s disease), ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and AD (alzheimer’s disease)
When the body mistakenly attacks the myelin, which is then lost in multiple areas.
Demyelination
Thought to be autoimmune disease that affects the CNS including brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.
MS
What is the most common symptom of MS?
Fatigue. Other symptoms are varied but include tremors, poor balance, and cognitive decline
What are some medications that help MS?
Steroids
What would you focus on in therapy for a person with MS?
energy conservation
This is a slow, chronic, progressive disease of the nervous system.
Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
What are the symptoms of PD?
Resting tremor, rigidity in skeletal muscle, bradykinesia, and postural instability.
What is the cause of PD?
Degeneration in dopaminergic pathways in the basal ganglia, particularly in the substantia nigra.
What are some medications that help PD?
Levodopa or Sinemet (dopamine drugs)
What kinds of surgical options are there for patients with PD?
deep brain stimulation, pallidotomy, thalamotomy
What would you focus on in therapy for a person with PD?
Learning strategies designed to increase efficiency, safety, and independence. Focus on functional performance levels- big fall risk.
A progressive disease characterized by the degeneration of the motor neurons in the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord, brainstem, and corticospinal tracts
ALS
What is the cause of ALS?
Unknown. Motor neuron disease where motor neurons gradually degenerate and die.
What are the symptoms of ALS?
Patients slowly lose control of their voluntary muscle function. Speech deficits, swallowing difficulty, respiratory involvement.
