...reach their prime for physical capabilities during their twenties and thirties, but they can also reach it later on in life. Over the years, researchers have come up with many different theories regarding the causes of aging. Some of these theories include the wear and tear theory, the cellular theory, and the genetic mutation theory. The wear and tear theory, basically states that over a period time, a buildup of damage from internal and external factors eventually wears the body out and starts to it break down. The cellular theory, proposes that when we are born our cells are limited to only reproducing a certain amount of times before they die, then our organs begin to slowly rot away. Researchers promoting the genetic mutation theory believe that all the mutated cells in our body increases with age, so as people get older they tend to have more damage and problems within their cells. Most of the signs of aging are shown through the outward appearance of a person, such as wrinkles, baldness, gray hair, etc., and other signs can be seen mentally which include memory loss or a slower reaction time. Osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease are three of the most common diseases that occur with the aging process of a person. Osteoporosis is when a person’s bones become fragile and lose density over time. During the early stages of osteoporosis, there are no noticeable symptoms, but later on during the...
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...Parkinson’s disease Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disorder that affects the central nervous system. It affects the body’s movement abilities and creates symptoms such as involuntary shaking of the body. Researchers believe that at least 500,000 people in the United States currently have PD, although some estimates are much higher. Society pays an enormous price for PD. The total cost to the nation is estimated to exceed $6 billion annually. The risk of PD increases with age, so analysts expect the financial and public health impact of this disease to increase as the population gets older. To date, there are no specific diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease. Diagnosis can only be made by an expert examination after the person has already developed symptoms. Biochemical measures can be used such as a screening strategy monitoring the dopamine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Otherwise, specifically 6(18F)dopa positron emission tomography can be used for a direct measurement of dopamine activity. Using a computer to assess movement time is another test for Parkinson's disease. To examine the electrophysiological characteristics of tremor and preclinical nigral dysfunction characteristic of Parkinson's EMG (electromyography recordings) can be used. Finally, a symptomatic screening is often utilized and consists of nine symptom related questions, as well as disease specific and drug specific questions. This provides an indirect functional measure of the nigrostriatal...
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...Parkinson’s Disease Carley Drye Bio 330-002 Dr. Blais Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that falls under the category of motor disorders. It is caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, which allow for the ability to move with ease. The four signature symptoms of PD are a resting tremor, stiffness, slowness of movement, and postural instability. The disease is most common in people over the age of fifty and also affects more men than women. 6,000 people in the United States are diagnosed each year with the disease. There are currently no consistent blood or imaging tests that indicate a person has Parkinson’s. Instead, a complete family history is taken, and a neurological examination is performed by the physician to test for the most common symptoms. There is presently no cure for this progressive disease, but several treatments have been developed that effectively treat many of the symptoms. The discovery of Parkinson’s disease began in 1817 when James Parkinson wrote a book after observing several patients in his hospital with what he called a “shaking palsy” (1). Fifty years later, in 1867, the scientist Jean-Martin Charcot broadened the description of the disease. He and his students were able to distinguish PD from multiple sclerosis and other diseases characterized by tremoring. Additionally, they developed a clinical spectrum for the disease based on different typed of symptoms (1). They had observed that...
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...SIROY, Shanayne SOLAIMAN, Alyssa PATIENT D: Acetazolamide 250mg Levodopa/Carbidopa 25/250 Pilocarpine 4% Reserpine 0.25mg Diltiazem 30mg Vitamin B Complex with Vitamin C Entacapone Tablets Tolcapone POSSIBLE DRUG INTERACTIONS LEVODOPA + DILTIAZEM Levodopa and diltiazem may have additive effects in lowering your blood pressure. You may experience headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and/or changes in pulse or heart rate. These side effects are most likely to be seen at the beginning of treatment, following a dose increase, or when treatment is restarted after an interruption. Let your doctor know if you develop these symptoms and they do not go away after a few days or they become troublesome. Avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you, and use caution when getting up from a sitting or lying position. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor. MONITOR: The hypotensive effects of levodopa and antihypertensive agents may be additive. Postural hypotension may occur. MANAGEMENT: Hemodynamic responses should be monitored during coadministration, especially during the first few weeks of therapy. Dose adjustments of the antihypertensive agent may be required. Patients should be advised to notify their physician if they experience dizziness or syncope. LEVODOPA...
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...Differential Diagnosis in Dementia By: M.K Parkinson Disease Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder that can cause your muscles to tighten and become rigid, making it difficult to walk and engage in daily activities. People with Parkinson’s disease also experience tremors and, in some cases, may ultimately develop cognitive problems, including memory loss and dementia. Parkinson's disease was first characterized extensively by an English doctor, James Parkinson, in 1817. Today, we understand Parkinson's disease to be a disorder of the central nervous system that results from the loss of cells in various parts of the brain, including a region called the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals within the brain that allow for coordination of movement, learning ability, reward feeling, and placebo effect. Decreased dopamine production causes neurons to fire without normal control, leaving patients less able to direct or control their movement and contributes to mood and cognitive disturbances later in the course of the disease. Parkinson's disease is one of several diseases categorized by clinicians as movement disorders. Parkinson's disease Triggers In Canada alone there is over 100,000 Canadians affected by Parkinson's disease. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease (after Alzheimer’s disease). Parkinson’s disease is most commonly found in people who are older than...
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...8/04/08 Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease affects the way you move. It happens when there is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain. Normally, these nerve cells make an important chemical called dopamine. Dopamine sends signals to the part of your brain that controls movement. It lets your muscles move smoothly and do what you want them to do. When you have Parkinson’s, these nerve cells break down. Then you no longer have enough dopamine, and you have trouble moving the way you want to. Parkinson’s is progressive, which means it gets worse over time. But usually this happens slowly, over a period of many years. And there are good treatments that can help you live a full life. No one knows for sure what makes these nerve cells break down. But scientists are doing a lot of research to look for the answer. They are studying many possible causes, including aging and poisons in the environment. Abnormal genes seem to lead to Parkinson's disease in some people. But so far, there is not enough proof to show that it is always inherited. The four main symptoms of Parkinson’s are: Tremor, (which means shaking or trembling) Tremor may affect your hands, arms, legs, or head. Stiff muscles, slow movement, Problems with balance or walking. People usually start to have symptoms between the ages of 50 and 60, but in some people symptoms start earlier Tremor may be the first symptom you notice. It is one of the most common signs of the disease, although not everyone...
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...Parkinson's Disease Erick Magana PSY/340 January 21 2014 Melvin Council Parkinson's Disease As people start to become more health conscious there are some illnesses that cannot be prevented or cured. As to say it was destined from some kind of deity. To be given a disease or a disability that one cannot recover from must be a horrible feeling, the thought of death around the corner or not being able to do the things that one could do with ease at one point in their life. Not like the thought of death of one day everyone will all die by an unsuspecting death. But to know that having three months, a year or two year two live. How can one not crumble and fall under depression as to quit on one’s life. The human race is extremely resilient. Knowing that a person has a disease does not mean that it is the end of the world. There is treatment and therapies that help with the disease or disability to make life easy to deal with. One of the diseases is that has no cure is but treatment is available is Parkinson’s disease (PD). Parkinson’s is a disease that is hereditary, at least that is what some doctors believe even though no one really knows how Parkinson’s is developed. Parkinson's disease may be caused by a viral infection or by exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides or carbon monoxide. Parkinson’s is usually found in older people from the ages of 50-65 but can occur at any age. It is slightly more common in men than in women. Parkinson’s is the gradual degeneration...
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...Parkinson’s Disease Definition: Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects your movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while a tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson's disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression or your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time. Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications may markedly improve your symptoms. In occasional cases, your doctor may suggest surgery to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve your symptoms. How many people have Parkinson's? One person in every 500 has Parkinson's. That's about 127,000 people in the UK. Most people who get Parkinson's are aged 50 or over but younger people can get it too. Main symptoms of Parkinson's: Tremor (shaking) Slowness of movement Rigidity (stiffness) Physical and other symptoms of Parkinson's: Bladder and bowel problems, Eye problems, Falls and dizziness, Fatigue, Freezing, Pain, Restless legs syndrome, Skin, scalp and sweating problems, Sleep problems, Speech and communication problems, and Swallowing problems. Mental health and Parkinson's: Anxiety, Dementia, Depression, Hallucinations and delusions, and Memory problems...
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...Lewy Bodies Dementia Ashley M. Paille Abstract. There are hundreds of brain disorders that affect the human brain every year. The diseases range from minor to much more severe. This research paper focuses on a complex disease called Lewy Bodies Dementia. This disease is a primary cognitive brain disorder that mimics a previously discovered disease known as Alzheimer’s. Lewy Bodies Dementia was discovered about a decade after Alzheimer’s. The disease is classified as either a degenerative disease or a neurodegenerative disease. Various factors throughout a person’s lifetime will influence the nature and severity of the degeneration of the brain. Signs and symptoms of the disease are extremely vague and often have the presentation of other known cognitive brain disorders. This disease is incurable and is often treated on a case by case basis. It is also treated by trial and error due to the intense side effects of the medications such as drowsiness and confusion. Recent treatments such as the medication, Levodopa, have been made available although they do not cure the disease but rather slow down the progression of the disease. Introduction. Nearly 80% of individuals with Lewy Bodies Dementia will also have brain changes consistent with Alzheimer's disease. (Galvin, Duda, et al., 2010) Secondary to this high statistic, patients are often diagnosed with a non-specific initial diagnosis of Alzheimer's. This diagnostic experience can become extremely frustrating. (Galvin...
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... What clinical manifestations are present in Ms. G and what recommendations would you make for continued treatment? Provide rationale for your recommendations. Clinical manifestations of Ms. G are as follows; • Fever • Chills • Pain and tenderness • Swelling of affected area • Skin sore or open skin • Redness or sign of inflammation • Muscle pain Firstly, I would recommend to control the blood glucose level to promote circulation. Secondly, patient should take an IV antibiotics based on the culture result, need to take high protein diet to promote the healing of tissues and replace the serum. Finally, Wound dressing should be done daily with aseptic technique so that infection can be minimized (Herchline, 2015). Identify the muscle groups likely to be affected by Ms. G's condition by referring to "ARC: Anatomy Resource Center." ➢ Muscle groups affected ➢ Flexor digitorum lungus ➢ Tibialis anterior ➢ Flexor halluces longus ➢ Tibia posterior ➢ Plantaris What is the significance of the subjective and objective data provided with regard to follow-up diagnostic/laboratory testing, education, and future preventative care? Provide rationale for your answer. Subjective data shows pain and heaviness in her leg, which are the signs of ischemia of wound. Ischemia of wound occurs due to insufficient flow of blood to the affected part which can be minimized and treated with pain relievers, monitoring the sign and symptoms of infection, removing irritants to the...
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...Introduction As nerve cells in the brain begin progressively degenerate many physical, emotional and mental symptoms begin to occur. There are many reasons as to why nerve cells fail; this has been linked to old age and illicit drug abuse. However many patients are also diagnosed young and healthy and the reasons are still unknown. Nerve cells in the brain produce neurotransmitters such as Dopamine, Serotonin and Norepinephrine. The Monoamines are chemical messengers that transmit signals around the brain and affect a person’s emotions including their mood, alertness and motivation. When nerve cells begin to fail and the production of Dopamine in the brain is reduced the symptoms are both emotional and physical and can be known as Parkinson’s disease....
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...Parkinson’s disease Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year, and this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected. Parkinson's disease is a disorder that affects nerve cells in the part of the brain controlling muscle movement. Parkinson's is progressive, meaning the signs and symptoms become worse over time. Although Parkinson's may eventually be disabling, the disease often progresses gradually, and most people have many years of productive living after a diagnosis. We will be going through the organ system Parkinson’s affects as well as the signs, symptoms, and treatements. Organ System Affected With Parkinson’s The major organ system affected by Parkinson’s is the nervous system. The nervous system is the major controlling, regulatory, and communicating system in the body. It is the center of all mental activity including thought, learning, and memory. Together with the endocrine system, the nervous system is responsible for regulating and maintaining homeostasis. Like other systems in the body, the nervous system is composed of organs, principally the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and ganglia. These, in turn, consist of various tissues, including nerve, blood, and connective tissue. Together these carry out the complex activities of the nervous system. The various activities of the nervous system can be grouped together as three general, overlapping functions, sensory, integrative, and motor. Functions of...
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...Research Proposal Psych/610 Kristina England University of Phoenix Janice McMurray August 30, 2013 Research Proposal I. Introduction “Alzheimer’s disease causes 50% to 60% of all dementias and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and is the fifth leading cause among persons age 65 and older” (Heron, 2009). II. Seniors with dementia A. “Dementia is the progressive deterioration in cognitive function - the ability to process thought (intelligence)” (Nordqvist, 2013, pp. 1). “Dementia is a non-specific syndrome in which affected areas of brain function may be affected, such as memory, language, problem solving and attention” (Nordqvist, 2013, pp. 3). Dementia is most commonly seen in the elderly. B. Symptoms include; memory loss, moodiness, and communication difficulty. C. Causes of dementia include; Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, dementia with Lewy bodies, Fronto-temporal dementia, Huntington’s disease, and many other diseases. D. Two main categories 1. Cortical Dementia-“The cerebral cortex is affected. This is the outer layer of the brain. The cerebral cortex is vital for cognitive processes, such as language and memory. Alzheimer's disease is a form of cortical dementia, as is CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)” (Nordqvist, 2013, pp. 9). 2. Subcortical Dementia-“A part of the brain beneath the cortex (deeper inside) becomes affected or damaged. Language and memory are...
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...Diseases are sometimes extremely devastating and cruel. Some diseases move very rapidly while others are slow and painful. Treatments are sometimes useful yet other times nothing can stop the silent beasts that lurk in the body. Parkinson’s disease is a slow moving disease that slowly corrupts the brain. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic motor disorder that causes tremors, rigidity, slowed body movements, unstable posture and abnormal gait. This happens when neurons, nerve cells, in a part or the brain called the substantial nigra gradually die. These cells normally produce dopamine, a chemical that helps relay messages between areas of the brain that control body movement. The death of the cells leads to abnormal low levels of dopamine, and causes difficulty in controlling muscle tension and muscle movement both at rest and during periods of activity. PD as of now affects about 500,000 Americans, with about 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It is generally a disease that affects people of late or middle age at about age 60 however about 5 percent of patients have early-onset PD and are younger than 40 years old when symptoms begin. PD is slightly more common in men then women. So far scientists have not determined the reason why some people develop PD and others do not. Some experts blame a process called oxidation. During oxidation unstable molecules that areproduced in the brain as a result of its normal chemical reactions which ultimately damage the brain. Another...
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...Introduction “Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that belongs to the group of conditions called motor system disorders”. PD cannot yet be cured and patients get worse over time as the normal bodily functions, including breathing, balance, movement, and heart function worsen. The most common type of Parkinson disease is idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD), first described by James Parkinson, an English physician, in 1817 as paralysis agitans (the shaking palsy). Parkinson’s disease most often occurs after the age of 50 and is one of the most common nervous system disorders of the elderly. PD is caused by the progressive loss of dopamine brain cells (neurons) in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. It is characterized by tremor, slowness of movements (bradykinesia), stiffness (rigidity). Postural imbalance and gait disturbances. Other symptoms can include depression and anxiety etc. (causes, diagnosis, treatment and symptoms refer appendix I). One approach to reducing the symptoms of PD is through the use of exercise. Traditional exercise approaches to deal with gait and balance difficulties may include dynamic balance training, treadmill training, or strength training. Recommendations have been made regarding key components of an exercise program designed for those with PD. Keus et al. recommend four key areas: i) cueing strategies to improve gait, ii) cognitive movement strategies to improve transfers, iii) exercises to...
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