Neurological Disorders

During this presentation we will cover…

• Huntington’s• Encephalitis• Menegitis• Alzheimer’s• Parkinsons• Spina Bifita• Tourette’s• Prions/Crutchfield

Jacob’s

• Epilepsy• Concussions• Stroke• Brain Cancer• Mononeuropathy• Polyneuropathy

Huntington’s Disease• A genetic disease that causes degeneration of brain

cells in certain areas of the brain, it is also known as Huntington’s Chorea

• It can only be transmitted genetically• Early symptoms are mood swings, depression,

irritability or trouble driving, learning new things, remembering a fact, or making a decision

• Later symptoms are intellectual tasks become increasingly difficult and the patient may have difficulty feeding himself or herself and swallowing.

Huntington’s Disease

• There is no cure for Huntington’s• Treatments are meant to lessen the symptoms of

mental instability, pain, and depression• Length of the disease and progression varies from

person to person• Can be diagnosed through symtoms, CT, PET, and

MRI scans• Can be diagnosed through genetic screening, if you

have Hungtion’s your children have a 50% chance of getting the disease

Huntington’s Disease

Encephalitis

• The inflammation of the brain, most often caused by viral infections

• Elderly and young children/babies are more likely to get the disease

• As the brain tissue swells, nerves may become damaged and bleeding can occur, both of these can lead to permanent brain damage

Encephalitis

• Initial/early symptoms of the disease resemble that of the flu

• Severe/emergency symptoms include loss of consciousness, seizure, sudden mental impairment

• It is treated with antivirals, antibiotics, anti-seizure medication, sedatives and steroids

Encephalitis

Meningitis

• It is the inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal chord

• The viral version is less severe than the bacterial version

• The bacterial version is preventable through the meningitis vaccine

Meningitis

• Some minor symptoms can come across as flu like: fever/chills, vomiting, stiff neck and headache

• Severe symptoms include rapid breathing, loss of consciousness, agitation, and strange posture

• Meningitis can result in death or permanent brain damage if not treated soon enough with antibiotics, IV fluid, and steroids.

Meningitis

Alzheimer’s

• It is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior.

• It is the most common form of dementia• It is a progressive disease, so symptoms get

worse over time• It is not a normal part of aging• It can onset as early as the 40’s but most

commonly appears in the late 60’s or early 70’s of an individual

Alzheimer’s

• Results in the continual degeneration and death of brain cells

• The primary cause of it is uncertain. Scientists do know it is a combination of genetics, lifestyle, and environment.

• Risk Factors: Age, Family History, Female gender, Cognitive Impairment, Activity Level (both physical and mental), Smoking, Heart health

Alzheimer’s

• There is no cure for Alzheimer’s at this time, doctors can prescribe drugs that boost brain cell communication but this is only effective in the initial stages of the disease. Death will occur eventually

• 1 in 85 is predicted to have Alzheimers• Is diagnosed through symptoms, CT, MRI, and

PET scans

Alzheimer’s

Parkinson’s

• It is a motor system disorder• It is caused by the loss of dopamine producing

brain cells• Results in loss of muscle control– Common symptoms of this are: tremor, impaired

balance, stiffness, lack of coordination in movements, trouble speaking

Parkinson’s• Scientists unsure of direct cause of damage to

dopamine producing brain cells– Stress, physical damage, gender, exposure to toxins

and genetics all are contributing factors• Seen in 1% of the population that is over 60

and 4% of the population that is over 80• Usually diagnosed through symptoms and MRI• Can be treated with surgery, physical therapy,

and medication (things that are converted to dopamine or mimic it)

Parkinson’s

• Does not necessarily lead to death• Famous people with Parkinsons– Michael J. Fox, Muhammed Ali, Billy Kennedy, Billy

Graham

Spina Bifida• It is a birth defect in which the backbone and

spinal canal do not close before birth• Can be mild or severe– Mild form, which is most common, cannot be

detected without X-ray and does not create problems

– Severe form has two types• Meningocele, fluid leaks out of spine and pushes against

skin• Myelomeningocele, most severe, nerves push out of spine

and become damaged. Creates problems with walking, bowel/bladder control, learning disabilities and muscle coordination

Spina Bifida

• Cause is unknown, Genes and birth history play a role. Mother’s health plays contributes towards likelihood.

• Individuals with it can have a normal life, 10% of the population has the mild form of the disease.

• Individuals with the most severe form of the disease have the ability to live up to 50-60 with modern medicine

Spina Bifida

• Treatments can range from surgery, orthotics, physical/occupational therapy, catheterization

Tourette’s

• a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics

• most people with the condition experience their worst tic symptoms in their early teens, with improvement occurring in the late teens and continuing into adulthood

Tourette’s

The direct cause of the disorder, it effects multiple regions of the brain which use multiple types of neurotransmitters. Genetics due play a contributing role.

Neuroleptics, stimulants, and blood pressure medication can be used to alleviate some of the tics

Prion’s / Creutzfeldt Jakob’s

• Prions are proteins, when they take on an infectious form they clump together and attack brain tissue

• Creutzfeldt Jakob’s disease is where through bacterial or viral infection prions convert to an infectious form and attack the brain.

• Believed to be caused by a slow virus or another organism, but scientists have yet to find it. 5-10% of the cases are genetic

Prion’s / Creutzfeldt Jakob’s

• Mad Cow, also known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis was considered a variant form of Creutzfeldt Jakob’s, but their prions while both infectious were slightly different

• Kuru is another version of spongiform encephalopathy where after consuming brain tissue of an individual with the disease the consumers prions become infectious and attack the brain

Prion’s / Creutzfeldt Jakob’s

• Diagnosed through symptoms and ruling out all other causes of mental instability. Only true way to diagnose as specifically Prion’s / Creutzfeldt Jakob’s is through autopsy

• Symptoms include progressive dementia: muscle coordination, personality change, impaired memory/judgement, muscle jerks and blindness.

• Always will result in death

Prion’s / Creutzfeldt Jakob’s

Prion’s / Creutzfeldt Jakob’s

Epilepsy

• Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures (convulsions) over time.

• Epilepsy occurs when permanent changes in brain tissue cause the brain to be too excitable or jumpy.

• Causes: Stroke, Dementia, Brain Injury, HIV, AIDS, Congenital Birth Defects, Metabolism, Brain Tumor, Abnormal Brain Blood Vessels, Illnesses that damage or destroy brain tissue.

Epilepsy

• Some people may have simple staring spells, while others have violent shaking and loss of alertness

• Seizure types– Absence seizure: prolonged staring– Grand Mal seizure: convulsions and shaking of

body– Partial seizure: part of the brain becomes

unresponsive

Epilepsy

• Can be diagnosed through EEG, blood chemistry, blood count, liver function test, kidney function test, lumbar function test, CT scan, MRI

• Treatment can be anti-seizure medication, surgery to remove brain cells or repair abnormal blood vessels, implantation of VNS

Epilepsy

• Can live a normal lifespan with condition, if not caused by a more severe disease

• Symptoms normally lessen with age and treatment

Concussions

• Concussions are considered to be any traumatic brain injury that alters the way the brain functions.

• Effects are most often temporary, but repeated concussions will lead to permanent brain damage

Concussions• Signs and symptoms a concussion may have

occurred– Headache– Loss of consciousness– Confusion– Amnesia on the event that caused the injury– Dizziness– Ringing in ears– Nausea and vomiting– Slurred speech– Tiredness/Fatigue

Concussions• What occurs in a concussion is the brain

accelerates into the wall of the skull rapidly resulting in it hitting the skull

• To diagnose a concussion doctors will give you a neurological exam to test memory/coordination, vision, hearing, strength/sensation, balance, coordination, reflexes

• CT scan• Observation

Concussions

• Repeated concussions can result in– Epilepsy– Progressive cognitive impairment– Second Impact Syndrome

Stroke• A stroke is when the blood supply to the brain is

interrupted or reduced. This deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrients, which in turn kills brain cells.

• Signs that someone is having a stroke or has just had one– Trouble walking– Trouble speaking or understanding– Paralysis or numbness on one side of the body/face– Trouble seeing in one or both eyes– Headache

Stroke

• There are two main types of stroke Ischemic and Hemorrhagic

• Ischemic-makes up for 90% of strokes, can be thrombotic when a clot forms in one of the arteries that supplies blood to the brain or embolic when a clot occurs in a blood vessel away from the brain usually the heart, blood ends up pooling and not getting to the brain

Stroke

• Hemorrhagic-occurs when blood vessel leaks or ruptures, can occur inside the brain (intracerebral) or on the surface of the brain (subarachnoid)

• Risk factors for stroke- family history, 55+, High B.P., High Cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, being overweight/obese, physical inactivity, heart disease, hormone medication, binge drinking, use of cocaine or methamphetamines

Stroke

• Strokes will not lead to death but can lead to permanent or temporary brain damage– Paralysis– Difficulty walking/talking/understanding– Pain– Change in Behavior and Self Care

(Physical and occupational therapy will help improve the above complications

Brain Cancer

• Mass of abnormal cells growing in/on brain• Can be benign or malignant• Some growths start in brain, others spread

from spine/other parts of body

Brain Cancer

• 9 types of brain cancer– Infiltrative astrocytoma– Pilocytic astrocytoma– Oligodendroglioma– Mixed oligoastrocytoma– Glioblastoma multiforme– Ependymoma– Medulloblastoma– Meningioma

• Infiltrative astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) account for nearly 85% of all brain tumors

Brain Cancer• SYMPTOMS OF BRAIN TUMORS• Frequent headaches that are more painful

when lying down• Vomiting, with or without nausea• Blurred or double vision• Seizures• Impaired thinking, mental confusion, or even

coma

Brain Cancer

• Diagnosed through CT, PET or MRI scans; spinal tap, biopsy, Electroencephalograph, or Cerebral arteriograph

• Brain cancer is treated with radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, steroids, and anti-convulsant medication

• People can survive brain cancer depending on the tumor type and how soon it is treated, but it also can result in death even if treatment occurs.

Mononeuropathy

• Mononeuropathy is a type of damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord

• Mononeuropathy is most often caused by injury, although body-wide disorders may cause isolated nerve damage.

• Long-term pressure on a nerve due to swelling or injury can result in mononeuropathy

Mononeuropathy

• Symptoms depend on the specific nerve affected, and may include:

• Loss of sensation• Paralysis• Tingling, burning, pain, abnormal sensations• Weakness

Mononeuropathy

• Is diagnosed through EMG, nerve conduction test, nerve biopsy, MRI, CT Scan, thyroid test, blood test,

• Treated with physical therapy, occupational therapy, medication, orthothics,

• Mononeuropathy can result in permanent pain, loss of movement or sensation

Polyneuropathy

• Polyneuropathy is a condition where nerve damage affects several areas

• The nerve damage results from either poor blood supply to the area or abnormal functioning of the nerve

• Diabetes is the major cause of chronic polyneuropathy, also result from old age, certain drugs, AIDS, and alcoholism.

Polyneuropathy

• Symptoms depend on the specific nerve affected, and may include:

• Loss of sensation• Paralysis• Tingling, burning, pain, abnormal sensations• Weakness

Polyneuropathy

• Is diagnosed through EMG, nerve conduction test, nerve biopsy, MRI, CT Scan, thyroid test, blood test,

• Treated with physical therapy, occupational therapy, medication, orthothics, vitamin treatment

• Polyneuropathy can result in permanent pain, loss of movement or sensation