aging and trauma key points
TRANSCRIPT
AGING AND TRAUMA
Key PointsIncreased longevity results in increased neurological disorders‘Normal’ age-related changes in brain structure Neurodegenerative diseases – abnormal changes with ageBasic knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease – neuropathology, genesBasic understanding of Parkinson’s diseaseRole of genetic versus environmental factorsStroke – infarct and haemorrhageTraumatic injuries to brain and spinal cord, primary - secondary eventsKnowledge of reactions to axonal injuryGlial cell changesDifferences between CNS and PNS injury
ReadingCrossman and Neary. pgs 13-17, 21, 27, 54-56, 127, 158Kiernan (7th Ed), pgs 31-35, 38, 59-62, 103-104Nolte (4th Ed), pgs 35, 89-94, 490-492Fitzgerald, pgs 47-48, 53-55, 102-105, 215-217, 225, 234-235
AUSTRALIA
Changes associated with ‘normal’ aging
Brain shrinkage, regression of processes/synapses
Inclusions
Changes in levels of neurotransmitters and their receptors
Degenerative diseases – abnormal aging
Cortical plaques containing irregular cell processes and beta-amyloid, activated glial cells.
Cellular changes in Alzheimer’s disease.
Neurofibrillary tangles in hippocampal neurons
Altered blood vessels
Older adults actually use different regions of the brain and more of the brain than younger adults to perform the same memory and information processing tasks. Overall, Reuter-Lorenz believes that older adults benefit from bi-hemispheric processing. Using two hemispheres instead of one, and more of the brain overall, may allow seniors to compensate for some of the mental declines that come with age.
Exercise and trophic factor production in the adult brain
Alzheimer’s Disease
Amyloid plaques, tangles
Early versus late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
APP, apoE, presenilins, tau
Changes in neurochemistry (acetylcholine), receptor levels
Parkinson’s disease and dopamine cell loss
Neurodegenerative diseases
Early diagnosis and neuroprotection, or cell replacement?
Parkinson’s Disease
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Huntington’s Normal
Traumatic and vascular accidents
The mammalian nervous system
brain
spinal cord
CNS
PNS
Spinal Cord Injury
