nervous system disorders. fetal alcohol spectrum disorder fetal alcohol spectrum (fas) is used to...
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Nervous System Disorders
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
(FAS) is used to describe a broad range of effects associated with alcohol use during pregnancy
• The spectrum can include physical effects as well as effects on the brain that may result in problems with learning, emotions and behavior.
Sometimes you can tell, sometimes you can’t!
• When a pregnant woman drinks, so does her baby• The baby's growth can be altered and slowed• The baby may suffer lifelong damage
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Smaller brain with less developed
convolutions (which increase brain surface area)
There's no cure for fetal alcohol syndrome.
Organ Development VS. Age of Embryo
ADHD• Attention deficit/hyperactivity
disorder• Dopamine thought to be
reabsorbed too quickly• It does not spend enough time
in the synapse• Ritalin : increases dopamine &
norepinephrine• Ritalin also known as
methylphenidate• Long term effects unknown!
Multiple Sclerosis• Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune
disease that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
• An acquired inflammatory, demyelinating disease - cells of the immune system invade the CNS and destroy myelin
• Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in the disease.
Multiple Sclerosis
It strikes usually between the ages of 20 and 40, and affects more women than men.
Multiple Sclerosis• The inflammation causes nerve impulses
to slow down or become blocked, leading to the symptoms of MS
• Many symptoms (differ based on what lobe is affected)
– MS affects occipital lobe – painful vision loss– Hazy vision / bright lights– MS affects cerebellum – difficulty walking– These “episodes” can last for months
• Treatments: medications (pain killers + promote myelination), wheel chairs, physical therapy to promote muscle growth, aqua therapy, leg braces/splint, occupational therapy, gene therapy
Multiple Sclerosis
These would be considered
technologies!!!
Autism• Abnormalities in brain• Some studies suggest
abnormality exists in specific protein responsible for re-uptake of serotonin
• Other studies indicate problem with receptor for GABA (gamma amino butyric acid)
• Brain’s chemical message system not functioning properly
Autism• Children with autism have
problems with social interaction, communication, imagination and behavior.
• Autistic traits persist into adulthood, but vary in severity.
• Aspergers Syndrome is a mild variant of autism
Did Einstein have Autism??
Historical Figures Suspected of having Autism or Aspergers Syndrome
Autism Treatments• Occupational Therapy benefits a child with
autism by attempting to improve the quality of life for the individual through successful and meaningful experiences.
• This may be accomplished through the maintenance, improvement, or introduction of skills necessary for the child to participate as independently as possible in meaningful life activities.
• Such skills include coping skills, fine motor skills, self-help skills, socialization and play skills.
More information on autism: http://www.autism.ca/
Parkinson’s Disease• Progressive degeneration of
midbrain• Midbrain loses it’s ability to
produce dopamine • Dopamine is an opiate-like
neurotransmitter• Dopamine produces feelings of
well-being• Results in muscular tremors,
partial facial paralysis and general weakness
• L-dopa given to slow dopamine breakdown
Alzheimer’s Disease• a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, which causes
thinking and memory to become seriously impaired. • At this time, we do not yet know what causes Alzheimer's
disease or how to stop its progression.• Amyloid protein deposits or plaques form in cerebral cortex• Memory affected• Temporal lobe of cerebrum affected• Scientists working to find ways to prevent plaque build up
More info on Alzheimer’s disease: http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/whatisit-intro.htm
Alzheimer’s DiseaseResearchers have discovered that Alzheimer's disease:• is not a part of normal aging • affects both men and women • is more common in people as they age -- most people
with the disease are over 65 • is not caused by hardening of the arteries • is not caused by stress
Alzheimer’s Disease• Scientists are looking at three areas:• Family history
For a few families, there is a definite connection between family history and Alzheimer's disease. While for others, a family history of Alzheimer's disease puts them at greater risk than someone with no family history. Though knowledge in this area is growing, the connection to heredity is not fully understood.
• The external environmentThe cause of Alzheimer's disease may be in our environment -- perhaps something in the water, soil or air.
• The internal environmentAlzheimer's disease may be caused by something within the body. It could be a slow virus, an imbalance of chemicals or a problem with the immune system.
Alzheimer’s Disease Treatments• Cholinesterase inhibitors help with the cognitive symptoms of
Alzheimer's. They work by preventing the breakdown of a chemical messenger in the brain called acetylcholine, which is important for learning, memory, and attention.
• Sensory therapies. There is some evidence that sensory therapies such as music therapy and art therapy can improve Alzheimer's patients' mood, behavior, and day-to-day function. By stimulating the senses, these therapies may help trigger memory recall and enable Alzheimer's patients to reconnect with the world around them.
http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet
Alzheimer’s Disease
Schizophrenia• Associated with prefrontal cortex• Severe disturbances in thinking, social behavior and
emotion • The illness is characterized by delusions,
hallucinations, disturbances in thinking and withdrawal from social activity.
• The exact causes are still a mystery, but it is believed the disease is caused by a biochemical imbalance.
• Today Schizophrenia is thought to be associated with chemical imbalances in the frontal lobe of cerebrum
• Treated with medications to correct chemical imbalance
Schizophrenia
John Nash: famous American mathematician (1928 – present)
Nash began to show signs of schizophrenia in 1958.
All throughout his years at Princeton (1945-1949) he believed he had a roommate while records show he lived by himself.
He became paranoid and was committed into the McLean Hospital, 1959, where he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and mild depression with low self-esteem.
Currently still at Princeton, where he gives lectures in mathematics.
Spinal Cord Injuries• Spinal cord may be damaged by
disease or injury• If spinal neurons in cervical area
damaged: result is complete paralysis
• This is known as quadraplegia• If spinal neurons in lower back
(lumbar area) are damaged: paraplegia
• Treatment: wheelchair, stem cell transplants
Hydrocephalus• Water on the brain• Caused by build up of CSF
due to over-production or inability to drain excess CSF
• Pressure builds up and squeezes brain against skull
• Reduced brain mass and intelligence results
• Shunt may be implanted to drain CSF
HydrocephalusHigher-than-normal amounts of CSF can occur in the brain if the flow or absorption of CSF is blocked, or if too much CSF is produced. The build up of fluid puts pressure on the brain, pushing the brain up against the skull and damaging or destroying brain tissues. CSF has to be drained using a straw/needle.
Spina Bifida
•Permanently disablingbirth defect.•Spine does not close properly in first month•Spinal cord may protrude through the back
Spina Bifida• Recently a link between SB and a mother’s diet low
in folic acid has been found• Folic acid (Vitamin B) is now added to breads• Leafy vegetables such as spinach and turnip greens, dried
beans and peas, fortified cereal products, sun flower seeds and some other fruits and vegetables are rich sources of folate.
• It is suggested that all women of child-bearing age be on a multivitamin containing at least 0.4 mg of Folic acid every day.
Treatment: surgery, physical therapy
Cerebral Palsy• Caused by insufficient
supply of oxygen to the fetus
• Possibly occurring during birth process (could happen before or after birth too)
• Result is reduced or lack of muscle coordination
• Brains are perfectly normal in terms of learning capabilities
Ashton Kutcher’s
twin brother (Michael)
has cerebral
palsy
Cerebral PalsyTreatment: • Occupational therapy• Physical therapy
Encephalitis• Inflammation of the brain• Usually caused by virus or bacteria• Encephalitis lethargica (or sleeping
sickness) is an example• Person feels apathetic, has double vision
and extreme weakness
Japanese encephalitis Virus transmitted by mosquito
Leads to paralysis, seizures and coma
Encephalitis- Treatments• Medication• Physical therapy• Occupational therapy
Abnormal electrical
discharge of brain cells or
misfiring of circuits
Epilepsy
Epilepsy• Nervous system disorder that
produces sudden, intense bursts of electrical activity in the brain.
• This abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes seizures – which may briefly upset a person's
muscle control, movement, speech, vision, or awareness.
• Can be treated with medications or surgery
What Causes Epilepsy?• Healthy people may have seizures under certain
circumstances. If the seizures have a known cause, the condition is referred to as secondary epilepsy.
• Some of the more common causes include the following: – Tumor – Chemical imbalance such as low blood sugar or sodium – Head injuries – Certain toxic chemicals or drugs of abuse – Alcohol withdrawal – Stroke including hemorrhage – Birth injuries
How are disorders diagnosed?• PET scan= positron emission tomography
– Radioactive glucose is injected first.– Active parts of the brain light up
• MRI = magnetic resonance imaging– Detects O2 in the blood
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