neurological problems

Question 1

what are inherited metabolic disorders?

Answer 1

(from harmful gene mutations)
* There are hundreds of inherited metabolic disorders that disrupt brain development.
* “Errors of metabolism” are genetic disorders. Typically, an enzyme is not synthesized on account of recessive mutations in both copies of a gene.

Question 2

what is Phenylketonuria (PKU)?

Answer 2

enzyme that is critical for development. converts the amino acid phenylalanine to tyrosine. without this enzyme, PKU will accumulate in the blood which isn’t good.

treatment: diet where you can’t eat any PKU.

Caused by the absence of the enzyme that converts the amino acid phenylalanine to tyrosine. A blood test is performed on all newborn babies to test for this condition. A special diet can be implemented at birth that prevents phenylalanine from accumulating and causing brain damage.

Question 3

what is Tay-Sachs disease?

Answer 3

Caused by the absence of a lysosomal enzyme (Tay-Sachs) that breaks down cellular waste. The disease is fatal.

The accumulation of waste products in lysosomes causes brain cells to swell and eventually die.

Question 4

what is down syndrome?

Answer 4

• Down syndrome is the result of having an extra twenty-first chromosome.
• It is congenital, meaning it is there from birth, but it is not necessarily hereditary.
• It is characterized by moderate to severe intellectual disability and physical abnormalities
• After age 30, the brains of people with Down syndrome begin to degenerate in a manner similar to that of Alzheimer’s disease.

Question 5

We have discovered certain toxins, viruses, and drugs that can disrupt fetal brain development. name a big one.

Answer 5

Alcohol use is particularly dangerous during pregnancy. Babies born to alcoholic women are typically smaller than average and develop more slowly. Alcohol consumption specifically during the 3rd and 4th week of pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, which is associated with certain facial anomalies and severe intellectual disabilities.

Question 6

what is fetal alcohol syndrome?

Answer 6

associated with certain facial anomalies and severe intellectual disabilities.

Question 7

what is encephalitis?

Answer 7

General term for inflammation of the brain caused by infection (bacterial or viral), toxic chemicals, or allergic reaction. The first symptoms are headache, fever, and nausea.

Question 8

what is meningitis?

Answer 8

General term for inflammation of the meninges caused by infection (viral or bacterial). The first symptoms are headache and stiff neck.

Question 9

describe traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Answer 9

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a serious health problem
* Almost a third of deaths caused by injury involve TBI.
* A concussion is a closed head injury.
A penetrating wound is called an open-head injury.
* In both cases, scarring can form within the brain, increasing the person’s risk of developing seizures.
* Even mild TBIs greatly increase a person’s risk of developing brain problems down the road.
– For example, the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease is much higher in a person who has received blows to the head earlier in life.

Question 10

what creates a tumor?

Answer 10

When a cell in the body starts to divide uncontrollably, it creates a tumor – a mass of cells that serve no useful function and whose growth is uncontrolled.

Question 11

describe non-cancerous tumors.

Answer 11

If a tumor has a distinct border and is naturally sealed off from the surrounding tissue (encapsulated), it is considered non-cancerous (benign). Surgeons can fully remove it.

Question 12

describe cancerous tumor.

Answer 12

If a tumor does not have a distinct border, it is considered cancerous (malignant) because it infiltrates surrounding tissue and spreads to other parts of the body (metastasizes). Surgeons can never be sure they fully removed a malignant tumor.

Question 13

true or false: Neurons do not divide, so they are rarely the source of tumors.

Answer 13

true

Question 14

which cells can be the source of tumors?

Answer 14

cells that divide:
– glia cells, which cause gliomas
– cells of the meninges, which cause meningiomas
– blood vessel cells, which cause angiomas
– hormone-secreting cells in the pituitary, which cause adenomas

Question 15

are meningiomas, angiomas and adenomas cancerous?

Answer 15

typically no, but they can damage the brain by compressing neurons and blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, (causing hydrocephalus – water brain).

Question 16

true or false: 33% of all brain tumors are malignant gliomas.

Answer 16

true, they proliferate rapidly and are more resistant to chemotherapy and radiation than most tumor cells.

Question 17

what are meningiomas?

Answer 17

they arise from cells in the dura mater and arachnoid membrane (cells of the meninges). They are typically encapsulated and non cancerous, yet they still require treatment because they can compress neurons and cause hydrocephalus.

Question 18

what are gliomas?

Answer 18

Gliomas arise from glia cells, and they are typically malignant. The survival rate from malignant gliomas is very low.

Question 19

describe strokes.

Answer 19

Over decades of life, blood vessels narrow, stiffen, and become blocked due to a buildup of fatty deposits caused plaques.
* Reduced blood flow to the heart (heart disease) is the leading cause of death.
* Disruptions of blood flow to the brain (stroke) is the second leading cause of death.
The likelihood of having a stroke increases with age, and it is 1 to 2% per year by age 75.
Other risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and alcohol intake.

Question 20

what are ischemic strokes?

Answer 20

87% of strokes are ischemic – there is a blockage of a cerebral blood vessel.

Question 21

what are hemorrhagic strokes?

Answer 21

13% of strokes are hemorrhagic – a cerebral blood vessel ruptures.

Question 22

true or false: Depending on size of the affected blood vessel, the amount of brain damage can vary from negligible to massive.

Answer 22

true

Question 23

what can help after a stroke?

Answer 23

• The administration of “clot-busting” drugs in the first 4 hours after an ischemic stroke significantly reduces long term brain damage.
• Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy over days, months, and years can also produce dramatic improvements in brain function.

Question 24

what are the three ways to remove plaques or lots in blood vessels?

Answer 24

1) coil retriever
2) aspiration device
3) stent retriever

(access through femoral artery through a cut in the thigh)

Question 25

describe seizure disorder

Answer 25

A seizure is a sudden disruption of normal brain activity caused by excessive, synchronized neuronal firing. Symptoms vary widely. Depending on the brain regions involved, seizures can cause changes in movement, sensation, behaviour, awareness, and consciousness.

Question 26

gene mutations have been identified to cause seizure disorder or put people at risk. what do they do?

Answer 26

neural network instability by affecting: – the amount or function of different ion channels in the brain – the reciprocal wiring of excitatory and inhibitory neurons – the rules that govern neural plasticity.

Question 27

what is the most common cause of seizure disorder?

Answer 27

scarring in the brain, which often relates to a head injury, a stroke, a growing tumor, or a developmental brain abnormality. Other causes include high fevers (especially in young children) and withdrawal from GABA agonists, such as alcohol and barbiturates.

Question 28

what are simple vs complex seizures?

Answer 28

-> Simple seizures do not involve loss of consciousness. -> Complex seizures do involve loss of consciousness, even if just for a few seconds.

Question 29

what are partial (focal) vs generalized seizures?

Answer 29

-> Partial, focal seizures remain localized to one hemisphere or a small area of the brain. Depending on where they occur, they can produce loss of consciousness, rhythmic movements, or just weird sensations (e.g., déjà vu, wave-like feelings, numbness, tingling, visual disturbances, etc.). -> Generalized seizures spread across much of the brain and affect both hemispheres. They always produce a loss of consciousness, but that isn’t always obvious.

Question 30

Focal seizures have a consistent site of onset and characteristic patterns of spread. where do they typically start and spread?

Answer 30

They typically start where there is scarring in the brain. They can spread a little further each time they reoccur and develop into generalized seizures.

Question 31

what are absence seizures?

Answer 31

Children are especially susceptible to absence seizures, which are when a person becomes unaware of their surroundings and stops responding for 5-20 seconds. * Absence seizures are also called petite mal seizures or spells of absence. * People may stare blankly, flutter their eyelids, or make small repetitive movements. * Afterward, people immediately resume what they are doing, with no confusion. * Absence seizures are linked to genetic factors; they are rarely caused by head injuries.

Question 32

what are tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures)?

Answer 32

they involve loss of consciousness and motor convulsions. * They often start with a particular sensation (an aura). * The aura is followed by muscles contractions (the tonic phase) and then * Rhythmic jerking movements (the clonic phase). Tonic-clonic seizures typically last a minute or two, and they are followed by confusion and fatigue.

Question 33

what are atonic seizures?

Answer 33

involve a sudden loss of muscle tone (paralysis) and loss of consciousness. * They are also called drop seizures or drop attacks, and they usually last a few seconds.

Question 34

how are seizure disorders treated?

Answer 34

Seizure disorders are treated with anticonvulsant drugs, such as benzodiazepines, which work by increasing GABA receptor activity. Most seizures disorders respond well enough to medications that the patient can lead a normal life.