RASSMUSEN’S ENCEPHALITIS PRESENTATION.pptx

RASSMUSEN'S ENCEPHALITIS

1. RASSMUSEN’S ENCEPHALITIS

2. WHAT IS IT? One hemisphere of the brain experiences persistently worsening inflammation. This is Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE), an extremely uncommon disorder. Progressive and irreversible brain damage as well as recurrent seizures are caused by this inflammation. This results in the damaged brain hemisphere losing its ability to function properly. As the inflammation worsens, it results in mental deterioration and deteriorating weakness on one side of the body.

3. What are the parts of the nervous system that are active? The Cortex Cerebral Cortex: The condition primarily affects one hemisphere of the brain, causing inflammation and the cerebral cortex to shrink or atrophy. The cortex is in charge of a wide range of higher order processes, such as language, movement, feeling, and thought. These processes may be interfered with by the inflammation in Rasmussen's encephalitis, resulting in seizures, motor deficits, and cognitive deterioration.

4. What parts of the nervous system are active? Neurons: The main brain cells in charge of sending electrical signals are called neurons. The autoimmune response that causes Rasmussen's encephalitis specifically targets neurons, causing them to malfunction and eventually die, especially in the hemisphere that is affected. Glial cell During the inflammatory response, astrocytes and microglia, two types of supporting cells in the nervous system, become activated. The immune cells that live in the brain, known as microglia, are crucial to the inflammation that is Rasmussen's encephalitis.

5. WHAT PARTS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM ARE ACTIVE? THALAMUS Sensory and motor impulses are sent to the cerebral cortex via the thalamus. These pathways may be disturbed by inflammation and injury to the cortex, which may have an impact on thalamic function and elicit symptoms such as seizures.

6. WHAT PARTS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM ARE ACTIVE? CORPUS CALLOSUM The corpus callosum serves for communication between the brain's two hemispheres. Further neurological impairments may result from the inflammation-induced disruption of communication across the corpus callosum in severe cases of Rasmussen's encephalitis.

7. WHAT FUNCTIONS ARE IMPAIRED? MOTOR FUNCTION IMPAIRMENTS Hemiparesis: Usually accompanied with weakness on the side of the body opposite the affected hemisphere. From slight weakness to total paralysis, this can develop. Loss of Fine Motor Skills : Writing and buttoning clothes can become challenging due to a considerable impairment in movement precision and coordination. Spasticity: As a result of increased muscle tone and rigidity, movement might become even more difficult and painful.

8. WHAT FUNCTIONS ARE IMPAIRED? COGNITIVE DECLINE Memory Impairment: If the dominant hemisphere is impaired, it may have an impact on short-term memory as well as the capacity to create new memories. Attention and Concentration: There may be a decrease in the capacity to concentrate and stay focused on tasks. Executive Function: Disruption of frontal lobe functioning may lead to a loss in planning, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

9. WHAT FUNCTIONS ARE IMPAIRED? Focal Seizures: Often beginning in a single area of the body, focal seizures are a common and severe sign of Rasmussen's encephalitis. It can be challenging to manage these seizures with medicine. Rasmussen's encephalitis is known to cause a specific type of seizure known as epilepsia partialis continuua (EPC), which is characterized by jerking or continuous, rhythmic muscular spasms in one or more body parts usually the face, arm, or leg.

10. WHAT FUNCTIONS ARE IMPAIRED? LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION ISSUES Aphasia: Language problems may arise if there is damage to the left hemisphere, which is normally dominant for language in right-handed individuals. These can vary from mild cases such as anomia which is difficulty finding words to more severe types such as expressive or receptive aphasia which is difficulty speaking or understanding language. Dysarthria is the term for problems pronouncing words correctly as a result of motor deficits affecting the speech muscles.

11. The ways in which this course has allowed ME to better analyze the events and phenomena around ME. This course has allowed me to better understand the world around me. with the knowledge it has given me I can now look at a neurological issue of a person and understand which parts are functioning and which are impaired. Now I know exactly why something is the way it is and how. Also it has allowed me to better understand people on an emotional level as I learnt about the depths of their disease or disorder and how tiresome it must be to live with all these issues during their lives. I now value and admire every single person I know with a neurological issue and I comprehend how important it is to have a working brain as it literally CONTROLS ALL.