Neuromuscular disorders Flashcards
(12 cards)
Parkinson’s disease
degenerative disorder of the nigrostriatal pathway
what disease causes a decrease in dopamine which leads to a disruption of purposeful movement?
Parkinson’s disease
what are the manifestations of Parkinsons?
tremors, “pill rolling”, rigidity, bradykinesia (shuffling gait), mask like faces - show no emotions, dementia risk increases
How does Parkinsons progress?
depends on the person, but changes tend to come on slowly; progressive disorder, symptoms worsen over time
What populations are most affected by parkinsons?
more common in men; risk increases with age and typically seen in pts over 60
What are the risks/complications for a patient with Parkinsons?
cognitive problems (dementia); depression, emotional changes; difficulty in controlling urination; sleep difficulty (insomnia, sleep apnea); people at higher risk - can cause physical injury
what is multiple sclerosis
autoimmune disorder that attacks the myelin sheath, causing destruction and inflammation
what is the etiology of multiple sclerosis
demyelination of the nerve fibers; reduction in oligodendrocytes (cells that replace and repair the myelin sheath)
what are the manifestations of multiple sclerosis? what is the key feature?
key feature: demyelinated patches (plaques); paresthesia, hands continuously feel asleep; pain, caused by paresthesia; abnormal gait; bladder problems, sexual dysfunction; vertigo; nystagmus, eye shaking; fatigue; speech disturbance
who does multiple sclerosis most commonly affect?
20-30 year old females
what are the risk factors for a patient with multiple sclerosis?
optic nerve: double vision, nystagmus ; brain: fatigue, weakness, difficulty walking, imbalance; spinal cord
how is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?
use MRI to find plaques/lesions in brain; spinal tap: look for immunoglobins, if they are detected, diagnosis is confirmed
