lOMoARcPSD|44532475
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf 8/11/2026, 1:11:32 PM WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS: NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS
Although there are theories on what causes it, the cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown.
In Alzheimer’s disease, the microtubules become misfolded and tangled, which alters their
function.
Mixed dementia can co-exist in some patients.
Dementia results in brain shrinkage.
Postural instability is a late feature of PD.
Levodopa is the primary treatment strategy, although the other drugs may be given during the
disease process of PD.
Deep brain stimulation involves an implantable device that directly sends electrical signals to
the basal ganglia, which counteracts the aberrant signaling in Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a movement disorder where the dopamine-producing neurons and
substantia nigra of the brain undergo neuron degeneration.
Tremor: This is involuntary shakiness most noted in the hands in a pill-rolling fashion.
Rigidity: This is a series of catches or stalls in movement as someone else passively moves
the extremity.
Bradykinesia: Results from di昀케culty initiating movement.
Downloaded
WEEK by madiba
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
7 & CNS South Africa stuvia DISORDERS
NEURODEGENERATIVE ()
- converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
, lOMoARcPSD|44532475
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf 8/11/2026, 1:11:32 PM WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
Vascular Dementia Lewy Body Dementia Frontotemporal Dementia
Blood supply to the brain Refers to abnormal It is characterized by
impairs normal function of protein clumps found in neuronal cell death in the
neurons. neurons. frontal and temporal
Symptoms may appear The earliest and most lobes of the brain.
suddenly after a stroke prominent feature is a The areas associated
(post-stroke dementia) or sleep behavior disorder with this relates to
gradually due to vascular where patients behaviors and language.
wear and tear that occurs physically and Common signs and
with aging or any conditions sometimes violently act symptoms include
that damage or narrow out their dreams changes in behaviors
blood vessels over time (sleepwalking, (social inappropriateness,
(high blood pressure, screaming, laughing, impulsivity, apathy,
hyperlipidemia, and kicking, punching). emotional indi昀昀erence)
diabetes) and language de昀椀cits.
Incidence of vascular It is aREM sleep This type has a strong
dementia increases with age disorder with failure to genetic component and
and cardiovascular risk inhibit movement during tends to occur earlier
factors. sleep. between the ages of 40-
There can also be visual 50 years.
hallucinations; memory
loss may not be
noticeable until later
stages.
Dementia caused by
advanced Parkinson’s
disease dementia
Downloaded
WEEK by madiba
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
7 & CNS South Africa stuvia DISORDERS
NEURODEGENERATIVE ()
- converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
, lOMoARcPSD|44532475
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf 8/11/2026, 1:11:32 PM WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
belongs in this group
Dementia
Dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder that is considered a progressive disease that is
associated with impaired cortical function. It is an all-encompassing term. Note the diagram of
the brain below that demonstrates the e昀昀ect of dementia on the cerebral cortex that
demonstrates severe cortical shrinking:
Downloaded
WEEK by madiba
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
7 & CNS South Africa stuvia DISORDERS
NEURODEGENERATIVE ()
- converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
, lOMoARcPSD|44532475
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf 8/11/2026, 1:11:32 PM WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
Dementia is not a stand-alone disease, but rather, a group of symptoms caused by an
underlying condition. Most dementias worsen over time and are irreversible, but some types
can be reversed with treatment. While the incidence of dementia increases with age, it is not a
normal part of aging. The most common causes of progressive dementia are:
Downloaded
WEEK by madiba
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
7 & CNS South Africa stuvia DISORDERS
NEURODEGENERATIVE ()
- converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf 8/11/2026, 1:11:32 PM WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS: NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS
Although there are theories on what causes it, the cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown.
In Alzheimer’s disease, the microtubules become misfolded and tangled, which alters their
function.
Mixed dementia can co-exist in some patients.
Dementia results in brain shrinkage.
Postural instability is a late feature of PD.
Levodopa is the primary treatment strategy, although the other drugs may be given during the
disease process of PD.
Deep brain stimulation involves an implantable device that directly sends electrical signals to
the basal ganglia, which counteracts the aberrant signaling in Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a movement disorder where the dopamine-producing neurons and
substantia nigra of the brain undergo neuron degeneration.
Tremor: This is involuntary shakiness most noted in the hands in a pill-rolling fashion.
Rigidity: This is a series of catches or stalls in movement as someone else passively moves
the extremity.
Bradykinesia: Results from di昀케culty initiating movement.
Downloaded
WEEK by madiba
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
7 & CNS South Africa stuvia DISORDERS
NEURODEGENERATIVE ()
- converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
, lOMoARcPSD|44532475
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf 8/11/2026, 1:11:32 PM WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
Vascular Dementia Lewy Body Dementia Frontotemporal Dementia
Blood supply to the brain Refers to abnormal It is characterized by
impairs normal function of protein clumps found in neuronal cell death in the
neurons. neurons. frontal and temporal
Symptoms may appear The earliest and most lobes of the brain.
suddenly after a stroke prominent feature is a The areas associated
(post-stroke dementia) or sleep behavior disorder with this relates to
gradually due to vascular where patients behaviors and language.
wear and tear that occurs physically and Common signs and
with aging or any conditions sometimes violently act symptoms include
that damage or narrow out their dreams changes in behaviors
blood vessels over time (sleepwalking, (social inappropriateness,
(high blood pressure, screaming, laughing, impulsivity, apathy,
hyperlipidemia, and kicking, punching). emotional indi昀昀erence)
diabetes) and language de昀椀cits.
Incidence of vascular It is aREM sleep This type has a strong
dementia increases with age disorder with failure to genetic component and
and cardiovascular risk inhibit movement during tends to occur earlier
factors. sleep. between the ages of 40-
There can also be visual 50 years.
hallucinations; memory
loss may not be
noticeable until later
stages.
Dementia caused by
advanced Parkinson’s
disease dementia
Downloaded
WEEK by madiba
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
7 & CNS South Africa stuvia DISORDERS
NEURODEGENERATIVE ()
- converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
, lOMoARcPSD|44532475
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf 8/11/2026, 1:11:32 PM WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
belongs in this group
Dementia
Dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder that is considered a progressive disease that is
associated with impaired cortical function. It is an all-encompassing term. Note the diagram of
the brain below that demonstrates the e昀昀ect of dementia on the cerebral cortex that
demonstrates severe cortical shrinking:
Downloaded
WEEK by madiba
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
7 & CNS South Africa stuvia DISORDERS
NEURODEGENERATIVE ()
- converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
, lOMoARcPSD|44532475
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf 8/11/2026, 1:11:32 PM WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
Dementia is not a stand-alone disease, but rather, a group of symptoms caused by an
underlying condition. Most dementias worsen over time and are irreversible, but some types
can be reversed with treatment. While the incidence of dementia increases with age, it is not a
normal part of aging. The most common causes of progressive dementia are:
Downloaded
WEEK by madiba
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
7 & CNS South Africa stuvia DISORDERS
NEURODEGENERATIVE ()
- converted_removed.pdf
WEEK 7 & CNS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - converted_removed.pdf
