NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

Dementia  A degenerative syndrome characterized by deficits in memory, language, and mood.  The most common form: Alzheimer’s Disease  Usually slow onset  Characterized by three stages.

What happens in the brain?  Plaques & Tangles  Signs & Symptoms:  Short-term memory loss  Psychosis, aggression, may have personality changes,  Eventually loss of judgment, unable to care for oneself

Alzheimer’s Association, 2011

Those affected by Alzheimer’s  Caregiver burden is high:  Who are the caregivers?  17.5 billion hours of unpaid care to patients with Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Association, 2013) Estimated value of $216 billion Medicare is the largest payer for paid care (hospitals, doctors, etc)

Treatment / Prevention  Medications available to help slow progression, treat some symptoms  Lifestyle factors  Vitamin E

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease (PD)  Movement disorder that results from degeneration of nerve cells in basal ganglia.  Cause: Unknown  Environmental factors may be key, especially undetected viruses

Signs & Symptoms of PD  Tremor  Rigidity  Loss of reflexes  Mask-like facial expression

Surgical Treatment of PD  Deep brain stimulation  Generates electrical activity  Not curative

Treatment / Prevention of PD  Medications  Physical therapy  Occupational therapy  Supportive care  Prevention??

Multiple Sclerosis

 Chronic, progressive disorder of unknown origin.  Possible causes:  Viruses, immunologic reaction to virus, bacteria, trauma, autoimmunity, and genetics.  Cause remains inconclusive

Signs & Symptoms of MS  Muscle impairment  Loss of balance / poor coordination  Numbness / tingling  Difficulty speaking clearly  Double vision

Treatment & Prevention of MS  Currently, no cure  Some therapies may help with symptoms  Physical Therapy  Muscle relaxants  Acupuncture  Connection to Vitamin D???

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

 AKA: Lou Gehrig’s Disease  Chronic, terminal, neurological disease characterized by progressive loss of motor neurons.  Cause: unknown  Slightly more common in men

Treatment / Prevention of ALS  Early education to patient and family on how to care for patient.  Special attention to airway  Can it be prevented?