Parkinson's Disease Flashcards
The diagnosis of PD is entirely based on ______ and ______.
History
Physical Examination
List 4 signs and symptoms associated with PD.
- Resting tremor
- Bradykinesia/Akinesia
- Rigidity
- Festinating gait handwriting or speech
PD is caused by the degeneration of the ________.
Substantia nigra
A diagnosis of PD is further confirmed by a patient’s positive response to ________.
Dopamanergics
Patient experiences a decrease in symptoms when placed on drugs, such as L Dopa, further confirming the diagnosis of PD.
What are 2 differential diagnoses that are characterized by a poor response to Levodopa?
- Multiple Systems Atrophy
2. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Multiple systems atrophy results in ________ abnormalities such as ______ and _______.
ANS abnormalities
Hypotension
Tachycardia
Multiple Systems Atrophy is caused by the accumulation of the protein ______ in the ______ cells.
Accumulation of the protein ALPHA SYNUCLEIN in the GLIAL cells
List 4 symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy.
- Rigidity
- Bradykinesia
- Oculomotor impairments
- Depression
Progressive supranuclear Palsy is caused by _____ protein accumulation in the ______.
Tau protein accumulation
Brain stem
_______ and ________ are 2 common types of tremors seen in patients with PD.
Resting tremor (affecting hands and feet)
Pill rolling tremor (affecting the fingers)
What is bradykinesia? (2)
- Slowness of movement
2. Reduction in movement amplitude
What is rigidity? What type of rigidity is commonly seen in patients with PD?
- Increase in muscle tone that causes resistance to passive movement
- Cog wheeling type
Describe the postural instability often seen in patients with PD.
Stooped forward posture with decreased postural control
List 7 CONTINUOUS gait disorders seen in patients with PD.
- Reduce speed
- Reduce stride length
- Decrease arm swing
- Decrease single support
- Increase double support
- Increase cadence
- Gait shuffling
List 2 EPISODIC gait disorders common in patients with PD.
- Freezing of gait: gait is halted and the patient complains that his/her feet are glued to the ground.
- Festinating gait: short, jerky steps, COM in front of BOS