Lecture Notes: Chapter 11, Part 7 - Seizure Disorders and Neurological Conditions

Introduction

• Instructor: Dr. DeShavo
• Focus on seizure disorders and other neurological conditions.
• Mention of important concepts and conditions associated.

Seizure Disorders

• Seizure: Burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
  • Ions cross cell membranes creating abnormal action potentials.
  • Can present with loss of cognition, tensing, and relaxing of the body.
• Epilepsy: Disorder with spontaneous abnormal neuron firing.
  • Recurrent seizures without an underlying cause.
  • Dogs can be trained to sense seizures before they occur.
  • Complications: brain damage, traumatic brain injury (TBI), aspiration, status epilepticus.

Types of Seizures

1. Febrile Seizures:

   • Occur in children due to fever spikes.
   • Usually no damage unless injury from falling.
   • Children often outgrow them.

2. Absence Seizures (petit mal):

   • Brief, small seizures; person appears to pause momentarily.
   • Known complications while driving.

3. Tonic-Clonic Seizures (grand mal):

   • Intense seizures with body stiffening and jerks.
   • Loss of consciousness, falls.

Diagnosis and Testing

• EEG, CAT scans, or MRI to identify brain activity and rule out tumors.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

• Description: Autoimmune condition affecting CNS.
  • Links with lack of sunlight; common in women, Caucasians, temperate climates.
• Pathophysiology:
  • Oligodendrocytes fail to produce myelin; leads to sclerotic plaques.
  • Symptoms between ages 20-40.

Symptoms and Triggers

• Vision issues, fine motor skill degradation.
• Fever, heat, stress can worsen symptoms.
• Variable progression and symptoms.

Parkinson’s Disease

• Description: Progressive involvement of substantia nigra in the midbrain.
  • Leads to decreased dopamine production.
• Symptoms:
  • Tremors, slowed automatic movements, shuffling gait, stooped posture.
  • Mask-like facial expression.

ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

• Description: Affects upper and lower motor neurons.
  • Leads to spastic or flaccid paralysis and respiratory failure.
• Symptoms: Muscle weakness, cramps, difficulty swallowing/speaking.

Myasthenia Gravis

• Description: Autoimmune attack on acetylcholine receptors.
• Symptoms: Muscle weakness increases with activity.

Huntington’s Disease

• Description: Genetic disorder causing nerve degeneration in the brain.
• Symptoms: Mood swings, jerky movements, cognitive dysfunction.

Brain Tumors

• Description: Can be primary or secondary, malignant or benign.
• Impact: Increases intracranial pressure, neurological deficits.

Alzheimer's Disease

• Description: Most common form of dementia.
  • Brain tissue degeneration, amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles.
• Symptoms: Memory loss, disorientation, personality changes.

Motor Neuron Lesions

• Upper Motor Neuron: Spastic paralysis.
• Lower Motor Neuron: Flaccid paralysis.

Posturing in Brain/Spinal Cord Trauma

• Decorticate (C-posture): Cortex damage, flexor posture.
• Decerebrate (E-posture): Brain stem damage, extensor posture.

Conclusion

• Questions about diseases reflect damaged brain area.
  • Example: Occipital lobe affects vision.
• Reach out to Dr. DeShavo with questions.

Additional Details:

• Contact: Dr. DeShavo available for questions via email.
• Next Steps: Review conditions discussed and understand clinical implications.