Cns lecture alz and als

physiology

1. Alzheimer’s Disease

2. What is Alzheimer’s ?

3. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events .   As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems with language,  disorientation (including easily getting lost), mood swings, loss of motivation, not managing self-care, and behavioural issues.

4. WHAT IS AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS?

5. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis  ( ALS ) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a group of rare neurological diseases that mainly involve the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. Voluntary muscles produce movements like chewing, walking, and talking.

6. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NAME OF THIS DISEASE A- myo -trophic comes from Greek “A” = no/negative “ myo ” = muscle “trophic” = nourishment “No Muscle Nourishment” Lateral = defines location of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles Sclerosis = scarring and hardening in the degenerating region

7. OTHER COMMON NAMES FOR THIS DISEASE Motor neuron disease Charcot’s disease Lou Gehrig’s disease Picture from the Neuromuscular website

8. NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ALS Forms: Two types of ALS: Sporadic – no family history Familial – family history/background 90% of the known cases are sporadic

9. CAUSE OF ALS Due to a mutation in SOD1, the superoxide radicals are not neutralized The radicals attack the motor neurons and degrade them Muscles are not able to be stimulated

10. SYMPTOMS OF ALS First signs and symptoms (frequently overlooked ) Twitching and cramping of muscles (especially in hands and feet) Stiffness Weakness (especially in hands, arms and legs) Slurred speech Picture taken from the National Institute of Aging

11. SYMPTOMS CONTINUED . . . Later signs and symptoms : Difficulty chewing and swallowing Shortness of breath Muscle weakness due to wasting away of muscles Causes muscles to become smaller Respiratory failure Paralysis Picture from the ALS Association

12. This picture from the Neuromuscular website shows the wasting away of a person’s hands and arms