Chronic Neurological Conditions

Question 1

What are the 2 Types of Seizures and their locations in the brain?

Answer 1

Focal Seizures - starts in one hemisphere and affects parts of body controlled by that part of the brain
Generalised Seizures - involves whole brain and affects the whole body

Question 2

Alzheimer’s; Development, Presentation, Treatments

Answer 2

Development: Nerve cell death, cortex shrinkage, tangles and plaques around nerves
Presentation: Memory Loss, Confusion, Changes in mood and personality
Treatments: Galantamine, Rivastigmine and Donepezil

Question 3

Multiple Sclerosis; Development, Presentation, Treatments

Answer 3

Development: Myelin sheaths of white matter in brain, spinal cord and optic nerves are destroyed -> slow and distorted of nerve impulse conduction
Presentation: Loss of vision, Loss of power, Fatigue
Treatment: Interferon Beta-1a/b

Question 4

Dementia; Development, Presentation, Treatments

Answer 4

Development: Gradual brain dysfunction affecting mental capacity, memory, cognition and personality
Presentation: Confusion, Wandering, Repetitive
Treatments: Galantamine, Rivastigmine and Donepezil

Question 5

Nurses’ Role

Answer 5

1. Primary Prevention: Refer to encouraging health promotion
2. Secondary Prevention: MMSE
3. Detection and Assessment: Falls risk, ADL capacity
4. Person-Centred: Provide consistency and quality rest, adapt interventions and education to stage of illness, admin and education re medications

Question 6

Stages of Alzheimer’s

Answer 6

1. Stage 1 (2-4 Years)
   
   • Short term memory loss
   • Decreased attention span
   • Subtle personality changes
   • Mild cognitive deficits
   • Visuospatial deficits
2. Stage 2 (2-12 Years)
   
   • Impaired cognition
   • Loss of abstract thinking
   • Wandering
   • Personality changes
   • Impaired motor skills
3. Stage 3 (2-4+ Years)
   
   • Cognitive abilities grossly decreased
   • Absent communication skills
   • Gross motor skill impairment

Question 7

Assessing Neurological Status

Answer 7

1. Mental State Examinations
2. Neurological Assessment
3. GCS