Parkinsons

Question 1

What is a tremor?

Answer 1

Rhythmic, involuntary movement, common in Parkinson’s.

Question 2

What is chorea?

Answer 2

Irregular, rapid, jerky movements that impair voluntary control, associated with Huntington’s.

Question 3

What is ballismus?

Answer 3

Violent, flinging limb movements caused by subthalamic nucleus damage.

Question 4

What is athetosis?

Answer 4

Slow, writhing movements, typically in hands and fingers.

Question 5

What is dystonia?

Answer 5

Sustained, involuntary muscle contractions causing abnormal postures or repetitive movements.

Question 6

What is the function of the basal ganglia?

Answer 6

Regulates motor activities by inhibiting or facilitating signals.

Question 7

What is the function of the motor cortex?

Answer 7

Executes voluntary movements.

Question 8

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 8

Relays sensory and motor signals between the basal ganglia and motor cortex.

Question 9

What is the pathology of Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 9

Dopaminergic neuron degeneration in the substantia nigra, reducing dopamine in the basal ganglia.

Question 10

What is the pathology of Huntington’s disease?

Answer 10

Loss of GABAergic neurons in the basal ganglia, resulting in excessive movement.

Question 11

What are the common signs of Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 11

Resting tremors, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability.

Question 12

What are risk factors for Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 12

Age 60+, male, SNCA gene mutation, exposure to pesticides or heavy metals.

Question 13

What is the role of alpha-synuclein in Parkinson’s?

Answer 13

Involved in synaptic vesicle regulation; misfolded forms create Lewy bodies leading to neurodegeneration.

Question 14

What are non-pharmacologic treatments for Parkinson’s?

Answer 14

Exercise, physical therapy (balance and gait training), and occupational therapy.

Question 15

What is the role of levodopa in Parkinson’s treatment?

Answer 15

Converts to dopamine in the brain, restoring dopaminergic activity.

Question 16

What is the role of carbidopa in Parkinson’s treatment?

Answer 16

Inhibits peripheral conversion of levodopa, increasing its bioavailability and reducing nausea.

Question 17

What are common side effects of levodopa?

Answer 17

Nausea/vomiting, dyskinesia, and hallucinations.

Question 18

How are levodopa side effects managed?

Answer 18

Antiemetics for nausea, dose adjustments for dyskinesia, and pimavanserin for hallucinations.

Question 19

What enzyme converts levodopa to dopamine?

Answer 19

Dopa decarboxylase.

Question 20

What do MAO-B inhibitors do?

Answer 20

Reduce dopamine breakdown (e.g., selegiline).

Question 21

What do COMT inhibitors do?

Answer 21

Prevent peripheral breakdown of levodopa (e.g., entacapone).

Question 22

What are “On-Off” periods in Parkinson’s treatment?

Answer 22

Fluctuations between mobility and immobility, managed by dose adjustments or continuous infusions.

Question 23

What is essential tremor, and how is it treated?

Answer 23

Symmetrical tremor treated with beta-blockers.

Question 24

What is benign hereditary chorea, and how is it treated?

Answer 24

Childhood-onset, non-progressive disorder treated with tetrabenazine.

Question 25

What is tardive dyskinesia, and how is it treated?

Answer 25

Repetitive involuntary movements from antipsychotics, treated with valbenazine.

Question 26

What are common causes of cerebral palsy?

Answer 26

Perinatal trauma, anoxia, and infection.

Question 27

How is cerebral palsy assessed in infants?

Answer 27

Abnormal reflexes, delayed milestones, and hyper/hypotonia.

Question 28

How is cerebral palsy treated?

Answer 28

Botulinum toxin, physical therapy, and intrathecal baclofen.

Question 29

What is the most common type of muscular dystrophy?

Answer 29

Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Question 30

What gene is involved in Duchenne muscular dystrophy?

Answer 30

Dystrophin gene mutation.

Question 31

What is Gower’s sign?

Answer 31

Using hands to push on legs to stand, due to weak proximal muscles.

Question 32

What causes Huntington’s disease, and how is it treated?

Answer 32

GABA neuron loss, treated with tetrabenazine.

Question 33

What causes ALS, and how is it treated?

Answer 33

Motor neuron degeneration, treated with riluzole.

Question 34

What causes Alzheimer’s disease, and how is it treated?

Answer 34

Amyloid plaques and tau tangles; treated with cholinesterase inhibitors.