Week 2 Neurodevelopment and normal aging Flashcards
lecture
What is the most common non-lethal neural tube defect in Australia?
What is the prevalence?
Spina Bifida Meningomyelocele
impacts ~ 5000 people. 30-50 births per year with 7-15 surviving.
Why does Spina Bifida Meningomyelocele occur?
latin for split spin.
incomplete folding of the neural tube along the spinal cord which leaves the spinal cord exposed.
—> note: neural tube is supposed to close in wk4.
What vitamin is important during the first 4 weeks of Prenatal CNS development?
Folic acid/ vitamin b
What is hydrocephalus and who does it impact?
when an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) occurs within the brain. This typically causes increased pressure inside the skull.
85-90% of people with Spina Bifida have hydrocephalus.
What are the symptoms of spina bifida?
- incontinence (loss of bladder control)
- cognitive impairments (difficulties with language, memory, attention, executive functioning)
- motor impairments e.g. paraplegia (paralysis in legs).
How are low/ very low/ extremely low birth weight classified?
low: <2,500g
very low: <1,500g
extremely low: <750g
how are preterm/ very preterm and extremely preterm birth classified?
preterm: <37 weeks gestational age
very preterm: <32 weeks
extremely preterm: <29
Preterm or low birth weight accounts for a significant proportion of all congenital neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy.
What is the neuropathology associated with VLBW and VPTB
CNS damage via
- infection
- insult
- disruption to normal neurodevelopment processes
neuropathological changes
- enlarged ventricles
- reduced white & grey matter
- cortical malformations
Define “critical periods” of development
stages of development where synapses have a heightened capacity for adaptation (learning). Proper adaptation requires exposure to specific environmental experiences.
Contrast between dementia and normal aging
General term for chronic and substantial decline in two or more areas of cognitive function whereas normal aging is characterised by slight cognitive decline which is specific rather than generalised.
What is long-term potentiation and what happens to it during normal aging?
long-term potentiation is a persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity. (memory formation)
It is reduced during normal aging - reduced to baseline levels and is associated with rapid forgetting. This is a functional change which occurs during normal againg.
Describe cognitive decline in older adults
- Neurodegenerative disorders / neurological problems are relatively common in individuals >80yrs (AD, PD, stroke, etc)
- Motor slowing and decline in visual and auditory acuity are common in the elderly
- Risk of health-related problems is increased (cataracts, arthritis, etc)
What are some considerations when undertaking cognitive assessment for older adults?
- confounding influences: e.g. their lack of memory recollection might because of auditory decline not just decline in cognitive function
- no good reliable instruments to assess neuropsychological / cognitive (dys)function in the elderly.
- Measures often used in young adults do not typically provide reliable normative data for individuals >60yrs.
what are the types of functional deterioration associated with normal aging?
Which is the function that tends to be preserved?
- motor speed, gait and balance
- speed of information processing
- certain attention functions
- executive function (e.g. shifting set)
- visuospatial abilities
- memory (mainly recall)
• NB language functions tend to be preserved
What is bradykinesia?
slowness in motor execution and reaction time.
