DEGENERATIVE DISORDERS OF THE NS

Question 1

what are the degenerative disorders of the NS?

Answer 1

parkinson’s
alzheimer’s
huntington’s
lou gehrig’s (ALS)

Question 2

what is degenerating in parkinson’s disease?

Answer 2

substantia nigra

Question 3

where is substantia nigra located?

Answer 3

midbrain

Question 4

function of substantia nigra

Answer 4

dopamine producing cells

Question 5

etiology of parkinson’s

Answer 5

idiopathic

Question 6

age where people are at risk for parkinson’s

Answer 6

6th-7th decade

Question 7

part of brain that is being affected when substantia nigra is dysfunctional

Answer 7

basal ganglia

Question 8

what would be altered if basal ganglia is affected?

Answer 8

fine motor movement
coordination
muscle tone

Question 9

what is needed to be balanced for good function of basal ganglia?

Answer 9

ACTH and dopamine

Question 10

in parkinson’s disease, there is imbalance of ACTH and dopamine. dopamine is low or high?

Answer 10

low

Question 11

what do you call the cardinal s/sx of parkinson’s disease?

Answer 11

movement disorders

Question 12

what are the cardinal s/sx of parkinson’s?

Answer 12

pin rolling tremor
rigidity
bradykinesia

Question 13

this can be manifested due to the loss of finger dexterity which causes very small handwriting in patient’s with parkinson’s

Answer 13

micrographia

Question 14

this gait is defined as small propulsive steps that can be seen in pt. with parkinson’s

Answer 14

shuffling gait

Question 15

what posture is being associated with parkinson’s disease?

Answer 15

stooping posture

Question 16

early s/sx seen in patient’s with parkinson’s and is often unilateral

Answer 16

loss of arm swing

Question 17

definitive dx test for parkinson’s

Answer 17

none - hx and PE only

Question 18

drug therapy for parkinson’s disease

Answer 18

levodopa + carbidopa

Question 19

why is carbidopa being paired with levodopa?

Answer 19

it inhibits dopa decarboxylase that breaks down levodopa

Question 20

enzyme responsible for breaking down levodopa

Answer 20

dopa decarboxylase

Question 21

a dopaminergic drug used for early stage of parkinson’s that inc. release of dopamine from substantia nigra

Answer 21

amantadine

Question 22

a dopamine agonist used for early stage of parkinson’s

Answer 22

bromocriptine

Question 23

what cells are degenerating in alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 23

cells in cerebral cortex

Question 24

what is the first part of the brain to be affected in alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 24

hippocampus - recent memory

Question 25

what is degenerating in huntington's disease?

Answer 25

cells of cerebral cortex and basal ganglia

Question 26

etiology of huntington's

Answer 26

hereditary

Question 27

what do you call the abnormal gene present in patient's with huntington's?

Answer 27

huntingtin gene

Question 28

how is huntington gene being transmitted?

Answer 28

as autosomal dominant

Question 29

what are the chances of offspring of having the disease?

Answer 29

50%

Question 30

what is the onset of huntington's disease?

Answer 30

middle adult - 35 to 40 y/o

Question 31

cardinal s/s of huntington's

Answer 31

chorea - dance of vitus cognitice dysfuntion emotional disturbances

Question 32

diagnostic test for huntington's

Answer 32

genetic testing

Question 33

what is another name for lou gehrig's syndrome?

Answer 33

amyotopic lateral sclerosis

Question 34

what is degenerating in ALS?

Answer 34

all motor neurons

Question 35

what are corticobulbar neurons?

Answer 35

all cranial nerves that has motor functions except CN I, II, VIII

Question 36

etiology of ALS

Answer 36

idiopathic

Question 37

ALS is more common in what sex?

Answer 37

men

Question 38

what is the neurotransmitter that is causing degeneration of all motor neurons due to overexcitation in ALS?

Answer 38

glutamate

Question 39

lifespan of ALS patients

Answer 39

5 yrs

Question 40

clinical manifestations if ALS

Answer 40

muscle weakness paralysis

Question 41

most important muscle to be affected in ALS

Answer 41

respiratory muscles

Question 42

definitive diagnostic test for

Answer 42

muscle biopsy

Question 43

drug therapy for huntington's disease

Answer 43

anti-psychotic anti-depressant

Question 44

drug therapy for ALS

Answer 44

riluzole

Question 45

drug class of riluzole

Answer 45

glutamate antagonist

Question 46

what is degenerating in alzheimer's disease?

Answer 46

cerebral cortex

Question 47

what part of cerebral cortex is initially degenerating in alzheimer's?

Answer 47

hippocampus

Question 48

where is hippocampus located?

Answer 48

temporal lobe

Question 49

what is hippocampus known for?

Answer 49

seat of memory

Question 50

cardinal s/sx of alzheimer's

Answer 50

dementia emotional disturbances cognitive dysfunction

Question 51

how many stages do patients with alzheimer's experience?

Answer 51

3 stages

Question 52

this is a stage where patients can experience this in a span of 2 years and they still experience lucid intervals

Answer 52

stage 1 - inital stage

Question 53

priority nsg dx in stage 1 alzheimer's diseases

Answer 53

anxiety

Question 54

passive suicide in elderly manifests as

Answer 54

they don't want to eat

Question 55

this is a stage where patients can experience this in a span of 10 years and experiences sundown syndrome

Answer 55

stage 2 - confusion stage

Question 56

why is it called sundown syndrome?

Answer 56

because symptoms usually appear in the afternoon

Question 57

what are the sundown syndromes?

Answer 57

hallucination delusion wandering

Question 58

this is a stage where patients can experience this in a span of 2 years and they become dependent in the caregiver for everything

Answer 58

stage 3 - terminal stage

Question 59

in what stage of alzheimer's can a care giver experience care giver strain

Answer 59

stage 2 - confusion stage

Question 60

what is the abnormal protein that is said to be the cause of degeneration of cells in the cerebral cortex?

Answer 60

amyloid

Question 60

what is to be said that is being destructed in the synapses causing alzheimer's disease?

Answer 60

ACTH receptors in synapses

Question 61

DOC for alzheimer's

Answer 61

anticholinesterase - rivastigmine - donapezil - tacrine