Neurological Disorders

1
Neurological Disorders
2
Dementia

• A degenerative syndrome characterized by deficits
  in memory, language, and mood.
• The most common form Alzheimers Disease
• Usually slow onset
• Characterized by three stages.

3
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

4
Alzheimers Association, 2011
5
Alzheimers Association, 2011
6
Alzheimers Association, 2011
7
Alzheimers Association, 2011
8
Those affected by Alzheimers

• Caregiver burden is high
• Who are the caregivers?
• 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care to patients
  with Alzheimers (Alzheimers Association, 2013)
• Estimated value of 216 billion
• Medicare is the largest payer for paid care
  (hospitals, doctors, etc)

9
Treatment / Prevention

• Medications available to help slow progression,
  treat some symptoms

• Lifestyle factors
• Vitamin E

10
Parkinsons Disease
11
Parkinsons Disease (PD)

• Movement disorder that results from degeneration
  of nerve cells in basal ganglia.
• Cause Unknown
• Environmental factors may be key, especially
  undetected viruses

12
Signs Symptoms of PD

• Tremor
• Rigidity
• Loss of reflexes
• Mask-like facial expression

13
Surgical Treatment of PD

• Deep brain stimulation
• Generates electrical activity
• Not curative

14
Treatment / Prevention of PD

• Medications
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Supportive care
• Prevention??

15
Multiple Sclerosis
16
Multiple Sclerosis

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

17
Signs Symptoms of MS

• Muscle impairment
• Loss of balance / poor coordination
• Numbness / tingling
• Difficulty speaking clearly
• Double vision

18
Treatment Prevention of MS

• Currently, no cure
• Some therapies may help with symptoms
• Physical Therapy
• Muscle relaxants
• Acupuncture
• Connection to Vitamin D???

19
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
20
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

• AKA Lou Gehrigs Disease
• Chronic, terminal, neurological disease
  characterized by progressive loss of motor
  neurons.
• Cause unknown
• Slightly more common in men

21

• http//www.ted.com/talks/nancy_frates_why_my_famil
  y_started_the_als_ice_bucket_challenge_the_rest_is
  _historyt-536090
• http//www.bing.com/videos/search?qLiving20with
  20ALSqsnformQBVRpqliving20with20alssc8-1
  5sp-1skviewdetailmidA0150868482854D56AB8A0
  150868482854D56AB8

22
Treatment / Prevention of ALS

• Early education to patient and family on how to
  care for patient.
• Special attention to airway
• Can it be prevented?