Huntington's Disease
Huntington’s disease is the result of the progressive degeneration and atrophy of what structure(s)?
The basal ganglia and cerebral cortex
Is ALS an upper motor neuron or lower motor neuron disease?
Both
A patient is put on your caseload to be treated for balance deficits secondary to suspected Parkinson’s Disease. During your evaluation you note the patient has dizziness when transferring supine to sit, posterior losses of balance, freezing in gait, poor upward gaze, and depressed mood. When asking about her goals, she becomes angry and screams at you. What is your suspected diagnosis?
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
The following factors are believed to be a possible etiology of MS.
Genetics, infections, and environment
Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a decrease in production of this neurotransmitter.
Dopamine
The long-term prognosis of someone diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease is what?
Death
Spasticity, clonus, and a positive Babinski reflex demonstrate involvement of this type of motor neuron
UMN
What two factors increase new onset focal dystonia symptoms?
increases in physical activity or emotional stress.
This age range has the highest incidence of MS diagnosis.
20-35 years
A common early symptom of Parkinson’s disease is this, affecting both the hands and feet
Resting tremor
These two imaging techniques are able to indicate atrophy or abnormalities within the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia
MRI and CT scan
The primary reason death occurs in patients with ALS
Respiratory failure
What is a condition caused by disinhibition of the thalamus and PPN and resulting Basal Ganglia hyperactivity?
Huntington’s Disease
This occurs to the myelin sheaths that surround nerves within the brain and spinal with MS
Demyelination
To help improve bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor, this type of pharmacologic intervention is commonly used for Parkinson’s disease
dopamine replacement therapy
The earliest signs of HD is subtle involuntary movements of all 4 extremities that can be described as brief, irregular, and ballistic movements. What is the name of this type of movement?
Chorea/ choreic movement
Most common drug prescribed to somebody with ALS
Riluzole (Rilutek)
What is a common movement disorder whose motor signs are very difficult to distinguish from Akinetic/Rigid Parkinson’s Disease?
Lewy Body Dementia
This is the most common initial symptom seen in individuals with MS
Visual problems
Patients with Parkinson’s disease often show symptoms of akinesia, which causes difficulty with this part of motor control.
Initiation
Patients in the later stages of HD will notice a move from frequent, involuntary movements, like chorea and athetosis, to a state of what?
Rigidity
The most common finding in EMG testing among patients with ALS
spontaneous electrical activity with muscles at rest (fasciculations)
What are two common causes of Parkinsonism?
Drug-induced, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and exposure to toxins
What is the most common type of MS?
Relapsing remitting
Patients with Parkinson’s disease may have difficulty with crossing over thresholds due to this impairment.
Festinating/Freezing