Nervous System Disorders

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

(FAS) is used to describe a broad range of effects associated with alcohol use during pregnancy

• The spectrum can include physical effects as well as effects on the brain that may result in problems with learning, emotions and behavior.

Sometimes you can tell, sometimes you can’t!

• When a pregnant woman drinks, so does her baby• The baby's growth can be altered and slowed• The baby may suffer lifelong damage

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Smaller brain with less developed

convolutions (which increase brain surface area)

There's no cure for fetal alcohol syndrome.

Organ Development VS. Age of Embryo

ADHD• Attention deficit/hyperactivity

disorder• Dopamine thought to be

reabsorbed too quickly• It does not spend enough time

in the synapse• Ritalin : increases dopamine &

norepinephrine• Ritalin also known as

methylphenidate• Long term effects unknown!

Multiple Sclerosis• Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune

disease that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).

• An acquired inflammatory, demyelinating disease - cells of the immune system invade the CNS and destroy myelin

• Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in the disease.

Multiple Sclerosis

It strikes usually between the ages of 20 and 40, and affects more women than men.

Multiple Sclerosis• The inflammation causes nerve impulses

to slow down or become blocked, leading to the symptoms of MS

• Many symptoms (differ based on what lobe is affected)

– MS affects occipital lobe – painful vision loss– Hazy vision / bright lights– MS affects cerebellum – difficulty walking– These “episodes” can last for months

• Treatments: medications (pain killers + promote myelination), wheel chairs, physical therapy to promote muscle growth, aqua therapy, leg braces/splint, occupational therapy, gene therapy

Multiple Sclerosis

These would be considered

technologies!!!

Autism• Abnormalities in brain• Some studies suggest

abnormality exists in specific protein responsible for re-uptake of serotonin

• Other studies indicate problem with receptor for GABA (gamma amino butyric acid)

• Brain’s chemical message system not functioning properly

Autism• Children with autism have

problems with social interaction, communication, imagination and behavior.

• Autistic traits persist into adulthood, but vary in severity.

• Aspergers Syndrome is a mild variant of autism

Did Einstein have Autism??

Historical Figures Suspected of having Autism or Aspergers Syndrome

Autism Treatments• Occupational Therapy benefits a child with

autism by attempting to improve the quality of life for the individual through successful and meaningful experiences.

• This may be accomplished through the maintenance, improvement, or introduction of skills necessary for the child to participate as independently as possible in meaningful life activities.

• Such skills include coping skills, fine motor skills, self-help skills, socialization and play skills.

More information on autism: http://www.autism.ca/

Parkinson’s Disease• Progressive degeneration of

midbrain• Midbrain loses it’s ability to

produce dopamine • Dopamine is an opiate-like

neurotransmitter• Dopamine produces feelings of

well-being• Results in muscular tremors,

partial facial paralysis and general weakness

• L-dopa given to slow dopamine breakdown

Alzheimer’s Disease• a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, which causes

thinking and memory to become seriously impaired. • At this time, we do not yet know what causes Alzheimer's

disease or how to stop its progression.• Amyloid protein deposits or plaques form in cerebral cortex• Memory affected• Temporal lobe of cerebrum affected• Scientists working to find ways to prevent plaque build up

More info on Alzheimer’s disease: http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/whatisit-intro.htm

Alzheimer’s DiseaseResearchers have discovered that Alzheimer's disease:• is not a part of normal aging • affects both men and women • is more common in people as they age -- most people

with the disease are over 65 • is not caused by hardening of the arteries • is not caused by stress

Alzheimer’s Disease• Scientists are looking at three areas:• Family history

For a few families, there is a definite connection between family history and Alzheimer's disease. While for others, a family history of Alzheimer's disease puts them at greater risk than someone with no family history. Though knowledge in this area is growing, the connection to heredity is not fully understood.

• The external environmentThe cause of Alzheimer's disease may be in our environment -- perhaps something in the water, soil or air.

• The internal environmentAlzheimer's disease may be caused by something within the body. It could be a slow virus, an imbalance of chemicals or a problem with the immune system.

Alzheimer’s Disease Treatments• Cholinesterase inhibitors help with the cognitive symptoms of

Alzheimer's. They work by preventing the breakdown of a chemical messenger in the brain called acetylcholine, which is important for learning, memory, and attention.  

• Sensory therapies. There is some evidence that sensory therapies such as music therapy and art therapy can improve Alzheimer's patients' mood, behavior, and day-to-day function. By stimulating the senses, these therapies may help trigger memory recall and enable Alzheimer's patients to reconnect with the world around them.

http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet

Alzheimer’s Disease

Schizophrenia• Associated with prefrontal cortex• Severe disturbances in thinking, social behavior and

emotion • The illness is characterized by delusions,

hallucinations, disturbances in thinking and withdrawal from social activity.

• The exact causes are still a mystery, but it is believed the disease is caused by a biochemical imbalance.

• Today Schizophrenia is thought to be associated with chemical imbalances in the frontal lobe of cerebrum

• Treated with medications to correct chemical imbalance

Schizophrenia

John Nash: famous American mathematician (1928 – present)

Nash began to show signs of schizophrenia in 1958.

All throughout his years at Princeton (1945-1949) he believed he had a roommate while records show he lived by himself.

He became paranoid and was committed into the McLean Hospital, 1959, where he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and mild depression with low self-esteem.

Currently still at Princeton, where he gives lectures in mathematics.

Spinal Cord Injuries• Spinal cord may be damaged by

disease or injury• If spinal neurons in cervical area

damaged: result is complete paralysis

• This is known as quadraplegia• If spinal neurons in lower back

(lumbar area) are damaged: paraplegia

• Treatment: wheelchair, stem cell transplants

Hydrocephalus• Water on the brain• Caused by build up of CSF

due to over-production or inability to drain excess CSF

• Pressure builds up and squeezes brain against skull

• Reduced brain mass and intelligence results

• Shunt may be implanted to drain CSF

HydrocephalusHigher-than-normal amounts of CSF can occur in the brain if the flow or absorption of CSF is blocked, or if too much CSF is produced. The build up of fluid puts pressure on the brain, pushing the brain up against the skull and damaging or destroying brain tissues. CSF has to be drained using a straw/needle.

Spina Bifida

•Permanently disablingbirth defect.•Spine does not close properly in first month•Spinal cord may protrude through the back

Spina Bifida• Recently a link between SB and a mother’s diet low

in folic acid has been found• Folic acid (Vitamin B) is now added to breads• Leafy vegetables such as spinach and turnip greens, dried

beans and peas, fortified cereal products, sun flower seeds and some other fruits and vegetables are rich sources of folate.

• It is suggested that all women of child-bearing age be on a multivitamin containing at least 0.4 mg of Folic acid every day.

Treatment: surgery, physical therapy

Cerebral Palsy• Caused by insufficient

supply of oxygen to the fetus

• Possibly occurring during birth process (could happen before or after birth too)

• Result is reduced or lack of muscle coordination

• Brains are perfectly normal in terms of learning capabilities

Ashton Kutcher’s

twin brother (Michael)

has cerebral

palsy

Cerebral PalsyTreatment: • Occupational therapy• Physical therapy

Encephalitis• Inflammation of the brain• Usually caused by virus or bacteria• Encephalitis lethargica (or sleeping

sickness) is an example• Person feels apathetic, has double vision

and extreme weakness

Japanese encephalitis Virus transmitted by mosquito

Leads to paralysis, seizures and coma

Encephalitis- Treatments• Medication• Physical therapy• Occupational therapy

Abnormal electrical

discharge of brain cells or

misfiring of circuits

Epilepsy

Epilepsy• Nervous system disorder that

produces sudden, intense bursts of electrical activity in the brain.

• This abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes seizures – which may briefly upset a person's

muscle control, movement, speech, vision, or awareness.

• Can be treated with medications or surgery

What Causes Epilepsy?• Healthy people may have seizures under certain

circumstances. If the seizures have a known cause, the condition is referred to as secondary epilepsy.

• Some of the more common causes include the following: – Tumor – Chemical imbalance such as low blood sugar or sodium – Head injuries – Certain toxic chemicals or drugs of abuse – Alcohol withdrawal – Stroke including hemorrhage – Birth injuries

How are disorders diagnosed?• PET scan= positron emission tomography

– Radioactive glucose is injected first.– Active parts of the brain light up

• MRI = magnetic resonance imaging– Detects O2 in the blood