PARKINSON

&

ALZHEIMER

PARKINSON

• It was discovered by James Parkinson in 1817.

• Chronic and degenerative illness.

•Their causes are not recognised and it affects mainly 65 or more years old people.

PARKINSON

• Destruction of cells located on the “black substance”.

It is located on the brain region in charge of producing

“dopamine”

Neurotransmitter responsible for movements.

• High percent of black substance is took out neuronal loss dopamine loss

PARKINSONSymptoms:

• Neck, back and extremities pain.

• Appearance of:

• Trembling: first symptom in 70 % of cases, it’s normally started in a hand and transmitted to head and lower extremities.

It is reduced with dream and movements, and incremented with stress.

• Bradykinesia: slowness of movement, loss of capacity to get voluntary movements. Loss of upper extremities. Language variations, weak voice. Difficulties in normal life.

• Muscle stiffness: produced due to extremity movements resistance.

It’s painful and produces muscle contractures and normally concerns to cervical muscles producing cogwheel rigidity.

PARKINSONThe patient normally takes this posture:

Flex head

Flex Body

Drawn up knees

Trembling

PARKINSONSome of the other common symptoms are:

• Dementia.

• Depression.

• Excessive salivation.

• Postural hypotension.

• Reduction in blinking.

• Sleep disorders.

PARKINSONTreatment:

• L-dopa: It’s used to improve bradykinesia and muscle stiffness. In some cases it also improve trembling.

The aim is to extend the treatment until the patient needs it to get his diary life.

It normally produces an improvement in 80 % during first five years, then the patient normally has difficulties.

The life expectancy after treatment is about 20 and 30 years.

• Surgery: it’s really dangerous and only indicated in 70 or less years old patients, with important symptoms and secondary effects in medications.

ALZHEIMER• First case was identified by Alois Alzheimer in 1901.

•Irreversible and progressive illness referred to brain and its capacities.

• Slowly, it destroys memory, critical-thinking skills and capacity of doing easier works.

ALZHEIMERSymptoms:

• Memory loss.

• Difficulties in language.

• Unpredictable behaviour.

• Plaques in the brain

• Tangles in the brain

­ Loss of connexion between neurons and brain.

­ Healthy neurons start working bad.

­ Finally they die.

It is extended to the hippocampus.

Essential for memories.

Shrunk brain

ALZHEIMER

Main types of Alzheimer:

• Mild Alzheimer: people are recognised during this period.

• To be lost in streets.

• Difficulties in money management.

• Repeat the same thing more than once.

ALZHEIMER• Moderate Alzheimer:

• Damage produced un brain areas referred to language.

• Rational and conscious thought.

• Sensory processing.

• Memory and confusion are incremented.

• Patients start having problems recognising their families.

• Hallucinations, ravings and impulsive behaviours are possible.

ALZHEIMER

• Severe Alzheimer:

• Plaques and tangles totally extended brain and tissues shrunk

• Patients can’t communicate.

• Patients depend totally on someone.

ALZHEIMER

• Causes aren’t known.

• Maybe causes include genetic and ambient factors and lifestyle.

•Symptoms appeared between 10 and 20 years before we can see them.

•It’s a complex illness and there is not an effective treatment.

• Treatments are concentrated in behaviour helps and they try to prevent the disease.