1. Neurological Disorders

2. Dementia
A degenerative syndrome characterized by deficits in memory, language, and mood.
The most common form: Alzheimer’s Disease
Usually slow onset
Characterized by three stages.

3. What happens in the brain?
Plaques & Tangles
Signs & Symptoms:
Short-term memory loss
Psychosis, aggression, may have personality changes,
Eventually loss of judgment, unable to care for oneself

4. (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015)

5. (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015)

6. (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015)

7. (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015)

8. Those affected by Alzheimer’s
Caregiver burden is high:
Who are the caregivers?
17.5 billion hours of unpaid care to patients with Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Association, 2013)
Estimated value of $216 billion
Medicare is the largest payer for paid care (hospitals, doctors, etc)

9. (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015)

10. Treatment / Prevention
Medications available to help slow progression, treat some symptoms
Lifestyle factors
Vitamin E

11. Parkinson’s Disease

12. Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
Movement disorder that results from degeneration of nerve cells in basal ganglia.
Cause: Unknown
Environmental factors may be key, especially undetected viruses

13. Signs & Symptoms of PD Tremor Rigidity Loss of reflexes
Mask-like facial expression

14. Surgical Treatment of PD
Deep brain stimulation
Generates electrical activity
Not curative

15. Treatment / Prevention of PD
Medications
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Supportive care
Prevention??

16. Multiple Sclerosis

17. Multiple Sclerosis Chronic, progressive disorder of unknown origin.
Possible causes:
Viruses, immunologic reaction to virus, bacteria, trauma, autoimmunity, and genetics.
Cause remains inconclusive

18. Signs & Symptoms of MS Muscle impairment
Loss of balance / poor coordination
Numbness / tingling
Difficulty speaking clearly
Double vision

19. Treatment & Prevention of MS
Currently, no cure
Some therapies may help with symptoms
Physical Therapy
Muscle relaxants
Acupuncture
Connection to Vitamin D???

20. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

21. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
AKA: Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Chronic, terminal, neurological disease characterized by progressive loss of motor neurons.
Cause: unknown
Slightly more common in men

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23. Treatment / Prevention of ALS
Early education to patient and family on how to care for patient.
Special attention to airway
Can it be prevented?