3.02 Understand disorders of the nervous system 1 1

3.02 Essential Questions What are some disorders of the nervous system? How are nervous system disorders treated? How does the nervous system relate to the body’s communication systems? 2

Disorders of the nervous system:Alzheimer’s disease What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Disease of Older adults Progressive disease that begins with problems remembering Nerve endings in cortex of brain degenerate and block signals that pass between nerve cells Abnormal fibers build up creating tangles 3

Disorders of the nervous system: Alzheimer’s disease What are the symptoms? 1st Stage (2 - 4 years): involves confusion, short-term memory loss, anxiety, poor judgement 2nd Stage (2 - 10 years): increase in memory loss, difficulty recognizing, people, motor problems, logic problems, and loss of social skills 3rd Stage (1 - 3 years): inability to recognize oneself, weight loss, seizures, mood swings, and aphasia 4

Disorders of the nervous system:Alzheimer’s disease How is it treated? Some medications to prolong Stage I 5

Disorders of the nervous system:Alzheimer’s disease How is it prevented? Unknown cause - so no known prevention 6

Disorders of the nervous system: Cerebral Palsy Multiple Causes What is cerebral palsy? A disturbance in voluntary muscular action due to brain damage Caused by abnormalities in the parts of the brain that cause movement. Most common is spastic quadriplegia cause cause cause cause cause 7

Disorders of the nervous system: Cerebral Palsy Multiple Causes Symptoms Head rolling Grimacing Difficult speech or swallowing Does not interfere with a person’s intellect cause cause cause cause cause 8

Disorders of the nervous system: Cerebral Palsy Multiple Causes cause cause How is it treated? Treat the symptoms Which healthcare team members will take care of the patient with cerebral palsy? cause cause cause 9

Disorders of the nervous system: Cerebral Palsy Multiple Causes Which healthcare team members will take care of the patient with cerebral palsy? Physical therapy Occupational therapy Neurologist Gastroenterologist cause cause cause cause cause 10

Disorders of the nervous system: Epilepsy What is epilepsy? Seizure disorder of the brain Characterized by a recurring and excessive discharge from neurons Two Types: Grand Mal - severe, convulsive seizures Petit Mal - milder 11

Disorders of the nervous system: Epilepsy What are the symptoms? Hallucinations Seizures (convulsions) Loss of consciousness Should a person with epilepsy be allowed to drive? 12

Disorders of the nervous system: Epilepsy How is it treated? Medication: Phenobarbital Dilantin Tegretol Diet 13

Disorders of the nervous system: Epilepsy Should a person with epilepsy be allowed to drive? If a person’s seizures are not under control they are not permitted to have a driver’s license. 14

Disorders of the nervous system: Hydrocephalus Condition that involves an increased volume of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles of the brain. Usually caused by a blockage of the third or fourth ventricle of the brain. 15

Disorders of the nervous system: Hydrocephalus Who is most likely to develop hydrocephalus? Infants - it is usually discovered at birth because of enlargement of head One reason why babies heads are measured routinely starting at birth 16

Disorders of the nervous system: Hydrocephalus How is it treated? Shunt operation, to divert spinal fluid into the stomach 17

Disorders of the nervous system: Meningitis Meningitis is the inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Caused by bacterial or viral infection 18

Disorders of the nervous system: Meningitis What are the symptoms? Headache Fever (if bacterial) Stiff neck In severe form, may lead to paralysis, coma and death 19

Disorders of the nervous system: Meningitis How is it treated? Treat the symptoms If bacterial may be treated with antibiotics 20

Disorders of the nervous system: Multiple Sclerosis Chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which immune cells attack the myelin sheath of nerve cell axons. The sheath is destroyed and scar tissue is left in it’s place, impulses are not transmitted properly The cause it autoimmune, but not sure what triggers it 21

Disorders of the nervous system: Multiple Sclerosis What are the symptoms? Weakness of extremities Numbness Double vision Loss of coordination Possible paralysis 22

Disorders of the nervous system: Multiple Sclerosis Who is most likely to develop it? Develops in young adults between the ages of 20-40, with the majority being women It is autoimmune 23

Disorders of the nervous system: Multiple Sclerosis How is it treated? Rest Medication: interferon, avonex Speech therapy for speech problems Minimal stress Diet 24

Disorders of the nervous system: Multiple Sclerosis What is the prognosis? Patients with MS have the same life expectancy as an unaffected person, but there is no cure and the symptoms grow progressively worse 25

Disorders of the nervous system: Neuritis Inflammation of one or more nerves 26

Disorders of the nervous system: Neuritis Symptoms Pain Tenderness Impaired sensation, strength and reflexes Abnormal circulation Decreased ability to sweat in the distribution are of the inflamed nerves 27

Disorders of the nervous system: Neuritis Treatment: Pain relievers (analgesics) Anti-inflammatories Prevention: Follow safety rules Be careful - particularly with lifting 28

Disorders of the nervous system: Paralysis “disabling of a nerve” The loss of power, motion or sensation due to damage to the spinal cord. 29

Disorders of the nervous system: Paralysis What are the symptoms? Unable to move body part affected Unable to feel body part affected Unable to use body part affected 30

Disorders of the nervous system: Paralysis Prognosis: Patient will live but with limited or no usage of the affected part. 31

Disorders of the nervous system: Parkinson’s Disease What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease? It is characterized: Tremors Shuffling gait Pill-rolling (movement of thumb and index finger) Muscular rigidity 32

Disorders of the nervous system: Parkinson’s Disease Who is most likely to have this disorder? Believed to have a genetic link Mostly in males Caused by: Decrease in neurotransmitter dopamine 33

Disorders of the nervous system: Parkinson’s Disease How is it treated? Drug called L-dopa which replaces dopamine 34

Disorders of the nervous system: Poliomyelitis Disease of the nerve pathways of the spinal cord which causes paralysis. Impact of this disorder: Paralysis Physical disabilities Mental hardships Possible death 35

Disorders of the nervous system: Poliomyelitis How can it be prevented? Immunization How is it treated? Treat the symptoms 36

Disorders of the nervous system: Poliomyelitis What is the prognosis? Depending on the type of polio that you have, disability is more likely than death particularly with modern medicine 37

Disorders of the nervous system: Spinal Cord Injury Spinal cord can be injured at any point, but the mobility of the neck causes this area to be most vulnerable 38

Disorders of the nervous system: Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms: based on where the spinal cord is damaged Problems walking Loss of control of the bladder or bowels Inability to move the arms or legs Feelings of spreading numbness or tingling in the extremities Unconsciousness Headache Pain or stiffness in the neck area Signs of shock Unnatural positioning of the head 39

Disorders of the nervous system: Spinal Cord Injury How is it treated? Surgery for stabilization and release of pressure on the spinal cord What are the risk factors for teens? Teens tend to be daring and not as safe as they need to be and do not take the proper precautions 40

Disorders of the nervous system: West Nile Virus It is a mosquito-born virus It is spread to humans by the bite of mosquitoes Most people have no symptoms, but some have flu like symptoms In the elderly and very young it can cause encephalitis and meningitis 41

Disorders of the nervous system: West Nile Virus What are the risk factors? Living in a tropical area ( you live in tropical area in summer) Time of year (spring and summer) Time spent outside 42

Disorders of the nervous system: West Nile Virus How is it prevented? Good screens on windows and doors Get rid of wet mosquito breeding sites (any standing water) Change water in birdbaths every couple of days How is it treated? Viral - can only treat symptoms 43

Disorders of the nervous system: CVA CVA - Cerebral Vascular Accident Stroke or CVA Interruption of blood and oxygen to brain Tissue death Third leading cause of death in USA 44

Disorders of the nervous system: CVA CVA - Cerebrovascular Accident Risk Factors Smoking Hypertension Heart disease Family history 45

Disorders of the nervous system: CVA CVA - Cerebral Vascular Accident Causes 90% caused by blood clots Clots lodge in carotid arteries, blocking the flow of blood to the brain 10% caused by ruptured blood vessels in the brain 46

Disorders of the nervous system: CVA CVA - Cerebral Vascular Accident Symptoms Hemiplegia (paralysis one side of body) on opposite side of the body Sudden, severe headache Dizziness Sudden loss of vision in one eye Aphasia (loss of speech) Dysphasia (abnormal speech - slurring) Coma Possible death 47

Disorders of the nervous system: CVA CVA - Cerebral Vascular Accident Treatment Get to hospital immediately CT done to determine etiology If clot, treatment to dissolve clot, must be administered with 2 hours Prevention One low dose aspirin a day Stop smoking Exercise and lose weight Control hypertension 48

3.02 Essential Questions What are some disorders of the nervous system? How are nervous system disorders treated? How does the nervous system relate to the body’s communication systems? 49

3.02 Understand the disorders of the nervous system The end 50