Basics
What neurotransmitter is decreased?
Dopamine
This tremor type is when a person rubs their thumb & fingers back and forth against each other
pill rolling
What is freezing?
Feet feel stuck to the floor
What is the first-line medication?
Carbidopa and Levodopa
*Carbidopa takes Levodopa to brain*
What is the priority nursing concern?
What brain area are neurons lost?
Substantia nigra
This is when the muscles stay stiff when they should be relaxed
Rigidity
What is retropulsion?
Falling backward tendency
What does levodopa turn into in the brain?
Dopamine
What diet reduces medication absorption?
High protein
These are protein deposits found in PD
Lewy bodies
What is the term for slow mvmt?
Bradykinesia
What is Parkinsonian gait?
Small shuffle walking
What does carbidopa prevent?
Early breakdown of Levodopa
What is the on-off effect?
Which neurotransmitter is increased in PD?
Acetylcholine
What is the term for balancing problem?
Postural instability
What is festination?
Rapid, almost running steps
What is the surgical treatment for adv. PD?
Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
Involuntary movements from meds
What is the avg onset age?
Around 60
How many of the key symptoms are required for PD diagnosis?
Two of the three
flat-footed or toe-first walking
What is the MOST important non-drug therapy?
Exercise
What type of finding do imaging results typically show?
Normal findings - usually used to r/o other causes