The human brain is utterly baffling. A small organ weighing merely three pounds as an adult has the ability to control and shape a human’s life. Without it there would be nothing. There are so many different functions… and with that there are so many things that can go horribly wrong. It is amazing the capacities and that it possesses and we do not even realize it. That is why studying neurology and working on the treatment of neurological disorders is so critically important. Through the examination of Huntington’s disease, Bell’s Palsy, and Aphasia, neurologists can work to better the human mind and cure the diseases that attack it, which will infinitely enhance the lives of humans and create a brighter future for us all.
The first disease being discussed, Bell’s Palsy, is a disorder resulting in temporary facial paralysis due to damage to the facial nerves. It is the single most common form of facial paralysis; it usually occurs on one side of the face only. Symptoms start up quite suddenly and peak within 48 hours (NINDS, 2011). However, it is important to remember that symptoms vary person to person; some might feel mild weakness while others can experience total paralysis. The most common symptoms are weakness, paralysis, twitching, drooping of the corner of the eyelid or mouth, drooling, impairment of taste, etc and can sometimes cause facial distortion. Actually, viral meningitis or herpes simplex could cause this disease when the facial nerve swells in reaction the infection being carried (NINDS, 2011).
This may sound very frustrating. One may ask, “Are there any options?” Fortunately, there are some treatments available. Studies have shown that prednisone, a steroid used to reduce inflammation and swelling, is effect...
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...sease. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved November 3, 2011, from http://http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/huntingtons-disease/DS00401/DSECTION=tests%2Dand%2Ddiagnosis
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (2003, October). Aphasia Fact Sheet. MossRehab ResourceNet. Retrieved November 3, 2011, from http://http://www.mossresourcenet.org/aphasia.htm
National Institue of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2011, May 6). NINDS Aphasia Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved November 3, 2011, from http://http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/aphasia/aphasia.htm
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2011, August 26). NIND's Bell's Palcy Information Page. National Institue of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved November 3, 2011, from http://http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/bells/bells.htm
The two most common types of aphasia is Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia. Broca's aphasia is known as non-fluent because a patient has difficulty retrieving and producing fluent speech. Instead a Broca's aphasia patient produces slow speech and "telegraphic" skipping function words and grammatical morphemes. Wernicke's aphasia is known as fluent aphasia because the patients have no idea producing speech it just does not make sense and even made up words.
Flaccid dysarthria results from damage to the lower motor neurons (LMN) or the peripheral nervous system (Hageman, 1997). The characteristics of flaccid dysarthria generally reflect damage to cranial nerves with motor speech functions (e.g., cranial nerves IX, X, XI and XII) (Seikel, King & Drumright, 2010). Lower motor neurons connect the central nervous system to the muscle fibers; from the brainstem to the cranial nerves with motor function, or from the anterior horns of grey matter to the spinal nerves (Murdoch, 1998). If there are lesions to spinal nerves and the cranial nerves with motor speech functions, it is indicative of a lower motor neuron lesion and flaccid dysarthria. Damage to lower motor neurons that supply the speech muscles is also known as bulbar palsy (Pena-Brooks & Hedge, 2007). Potential etiologies of flaccid dysarthria include spinal cord injury, cerebrovascular accidents, tumors or traumatic brain injury (Pena-Brooks & Hedge, 2007). Possible congenital etiologies of flaccid dysarthria include Moebius syndrome and cerebral palsy. Flaccid dysarthria can also arise from infections such as polio, herpes zoster, and secondary infections to AIDS (Pena-Brooks & Hedge, 2007). Additionally, demyelinating diseases such as Guilian-Barre syndrome and myotonic muscular dystrophy can also lead to flaccid dysarthria (Pena-Brookes & Hedge, 2007). The lower motor neuron lesion results in loss of voluntary muscle control, and an inability to maintain muscle tone. Fasciculations, or twitching movements, may occur if the cell body is involved in the lesion (Seikel et. al., 2010). The primary speech characteristics of flaccid dysarthria include imprecise consonant production, hypernasal resonance, breathiness, and harsh voice (...
Parkinson disease (PD), also referred to as Parkinson’s disease and paralysis agitans, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is the third most common neurologic disorder of older adults. It is a debilitating disease affecting motor ability and is characterized by four cardinal symptoms: tremor rigidity, bradykinesia or kinesis (slow movement/no movement), and postural instability. Most people have primary, or idiopathic, disease. A few patients have secondary parkinsonian symptoms from conditions such as brain tumors and certain anti-psychotic drugs.
Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that disrupts communication and it can deteriorate a person’s coping potential and quality of life (Parr, 2001) which involve damage to the parts of brain that contain language (ASHA, 2013). Statistics from United States indicated around 25-40% of stroke survivors developed aphasia (National Association of Aphasia, NAA, 2013). Aphasia will affect both the ability to produce or comprehend spoken language and written language while intelligence is left intact (NAA, 2013). In US, it is found that the most common cause of aphasia is stroke (85%) and others including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), brain tumor or other degenerative diseases (NAA, 2013).
performance that involves, but is not limited to, a loss in at least 2 of the
In closing, the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system is vital for basic bodily functioning and processes. Injury, disease or abnormal structure of the brain will greatly affect one's behaviour, emotional regulation, mental processes and functioning. The brain will respond to any trauma, injury or abnormality to accommodate the dysfunction. During this response, the brain will physically change, the process called neuroplasticity, and attempt to "rewire" the brain to return to normal functioning. In the treatment of many cases as previously discussed, the aim was to reconnect neurons and the theory of neuroplasticity was the foundation behind it.
Alzheimer’s disease is a complex illness that affects the brain tissue directly and undergoes gradual memory and behavioral changes which makes it difficult to diagnose. It is known to be the most common form of dementia and is irreversible. Over four million older Americans have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to triple in the next twenty years as more people live into their eighties and nineties. (Johnson, 1989). There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but throughout the past few years a lot of progress has been made.
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"What is Wernicke's Aphasia?." theaphasiacenter.com. The Aphasia Center, 31 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
In this day and age, it seems as though almost everyone has experience a loved one taken away form a very serious disease known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is unbelievably devastating for everyone affected by it. This disease is causing major economical problems such as less occupancy in the nursing homes, and hospitals due to the rising population of elderly men and women being diagnosed with it everyday. Because there is not yet a cure for this disease and the percent of the population being diagnosed keeps rapidly rising, more time and money needs to go towards Alzheimer’s research.
Alzheimer's Disease Introduction to Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain. It was first described by the German neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915). in 1905. This disease worsens with advancing age, although there is no evidence. that it is caused by the aging process.
Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures which are unprovoked by any immediately identifiable cause (Hopkins & Shorvon, 1995). It is also known as a seizure disorder. A wide range of links and risk factors are associated with the condition, but most of the time the cause is unknown. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting approximately two and half million people in the US and about 50 million worldwide. Though seizures can occur at any age, epilepsy is most commonly seen in children and the elderly. Most respond well to treatment and can control their seizures, but for some it is a chronic illness. A clinical diagnosis is the first step to finding a potential cure for the disorder.
Since the gene for HD is dominant, there is a 50% chance of a sufferer's
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