Question Answers of Neurological Disorder.

1) What is Parkinson's disease?

Ans: Parkinson's disease: A neurological disorder that affects
movement, causing problems with mental health, sleep, pain, and other
health issues.
2) What are the Symptoms of Parkinson's disease?
Ans: Symptoms are:
 Shaky hands or arms
 Stiff muscles
 Slow movements
 Trouble with balance
 Difficulty speaking or swallowing
 Constipation
 Depression or mood changes
 Trouble sleeping
These symptoms can vary from person to person and may worsen over time.
3) What is rigidity in the context of clinical manifestations?
Ans: Rigidity is defined as increased resistance to passive motion. Cogwheel
rigidity is characterized by jerky, ratchet-like resistance to passive movement,
with muscles involuntarily alternating between tense and relaxed states.
4) What is tremor and how is Parkinsonian tremor described?
Ans: Tremor refers to the oscillation of a body part. Parkinsonian tremor, also
known as pill-rolling tremor, is a resting tremor typically present at rest and
disappears with voluntary movement. It manifests as a pill-rolling tremor of the
hand.
5) What is akinesia and what are its characteristics?
Ans: Akinesia refers to the absence of movement. Moments of freezing may
occur, characterized by a sudden break or block in movement. Hypokinesia
refers to the reduced amplitude of movement.
6) What is postural instability and what are its common manifestations?
Ans: Postural instability is common in Parkinson's disease. Patients may
describe being unable to stop themselves from going forward (propulsion) or
backward (retropulsion).
 7) What are the symptoms of hypomimia?
Ans: Hypomimia refers to a stiff face in advanced Parkinson's disease and
altered cognitive function, which may lead to dementia.
8) What are the complications associated with Parkinson's disease?
Ans: Complications include motor symptoms such as dyskinesia, dementia,
depression, hallucinations, psychosis, dysphagia, malnutrition, aspiration
pneumonia, and orthostatic hypotension.
9) How is the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease typically made?
Ans: Diagnosis is based on clinical features. It may involve CT scan or MRI of
the head to rule out secondary causes, as well as a PET scan to evaluate
levodopa uptake and conversion to dopamine in the corpus striatum.
10) What is the role of levodopa (L-Dopa) in the treatment of
Parkinson's disease?
Ans: Levodopa is the most effective agent and the mainstay of treatment for
controlling the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. It enters the brain and is
converted to dopamine, while carbidopa increases its effectiveness and prevents
side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
11) What are dopamine receptor agonists and give examples of
such drugs?
Ans: Dopamine receptor agonists are drugs that activate or stimulate dopamine
receptors. Examples include ergot derivatives like bromocriptine or pergolide,
and non-ergot derivatives like ropinirole and pramipexole.
12) What are monoamine oxidized inhibitors and their role in
Parkinson's disease treatment?
Ans: Monoamine-oxidized inhibitors block the breakdown of dopamine and are
primarily used to treat motor fluctuations associated with levodopa treatment.
Commonly used drugs include Selig Line and Reassailing.
13) What is epilepsy and how is it characterized?
Ans: Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by repeated seizures. A
seizure is usually defined as a sudden alteration of behavior due to a temporary
change in the electrical functioning of the brain.
14) What are the primary causes of childhood epilepsy?
 Ans: The primary causes of childhood epilepsy include genetic factors, head
trauma, cerebrovascular disease, brain tumor, CNS infection, Alzheimer's
disease, ischemia, and drug overdose.
15) What is the commonality across epilepsies in terms of
pathophysiology?
Ans: A disrupted balance between excitatory (via glutamatergic signaling) and
inhibitory (via GABAergic signaling) drive at the synaptic level is a
commonality across epilepsies that can result in seizure activity.
16) What are focal seizures and how do they manifest?
Ans: Focal seizures occur when seizure activity is limited to a part of one brain
hemisphere. There is a site, or a focus, in the brain where the seizure begins.
17) What are the symptoms of simple partial epilepsy?
Ans: Symptoms of simple partial epilepsy include jerking of limb or face,
twitching of a part of the body, and no loss of consciousness.
18) What are the symptoms of complex partial epilepsy?
Ans: Symptoms of complex partial epilepsy include automatic chewing
movements, performing aimless activities, and acting in a confused manner.
19) What is a generalized seizure and how does it manifest?
Ans: A generalized seizure occurs when both halves of the brain have epileptic
activity, and the patient's consciousness is lost while the seizure is in progress.
20) What are the types of generalized epilepsy?
Ans: The types of generalized epilepsy include grand-mal (tonic-clonic
seizures), petit-mal (absence seizures), and myoclonic seizures.
21) What are the diagnostic methods for epilepsy?
Ans: Diagnostic methods include physical exam/medical history, neurological
tests, blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG),
magnetoencephalography (MEG), computerized tomography (CT) scan,
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET).
22) What are the treatment options for epilepsy?
Ans: Epilepsy is usually treated with medications, surgery, stimulation devices,
or special diets, depending on the situation and whether seizures are controlled
with medication.
 23) What is a traumatic brain injury and what are its causes?
Ans: A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain that does not always
include an open head wound or loss of consciousness. Causes include motor
vehicle accidents, falls, violence or gunshot wounds, and military attacks or
bomb blasts.
24) What are the causes of non-traumatic brain injury?
Ans: Non-traumatic brain injury, also known as acquired brain injury (ABI),
can result from a stroke, lack of oxygen (hypoxia), tumors, or other illnesses
such as cancer, brain infections, inflammation, and other infections.
25) What are the symptoms of a brain injury?
Ans: Symptoms of a brain injury include headache, difficulty coordinating
balance, vision problems, seizures, changes in sensory perception, trouble
speaking and swallowing, personality changes, difficulty forming sentences or
choosing vocabulary, confusion, trouble communicating, difficulty with reason,
focus, and logic, and memory impairments.
26) What is a stroke and what are its symptoms?
Ans: A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly
interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Symptoms include
sudden numbness or weakness, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
speech, trouble seeing, trouble with walking or balance, dizziness, and sudden
severe headache.
27) What are the forms of stroke and how is it diagnosed?
Ans: There are two forms of stroke: ischemic (blockage of a blood vessel
supplying the brain) and hemorrhagic (bleeding into or around the brain).
Diagnosis involves a CT or MRI angiogram.
28) What are the types of brain tumors and their symptoms?
Ans: There are two types of brain tumors: primary and secondary. Symptoms
include changes in speech or hearing, vision problems, walking problems,
memory loss, changes in mental functioning, and muscle weakness.
29) What is intracerebral hemorrhage and what are its causes and
symptoms?
Ans: Intracerebral hemorrhage is the second most common cause of stroke and
the most deadly. Causes include hypertension, age, gender, race, previous
history of stroke, alcohol use, liver disease, and use of blood thinners.
Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, alterations in levels of
consciousness, weakness/numbness, vision loss, and seizures.
30) What are the causes and symptoms of brain infections?
Ans: Brain infections can result from viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and
immune system disorders. Symptoms vary depending on the type of infection,
such as sudden fever, severe headache, stiff neck, behavioral changes, and
more.
31) What are the causes and symptoms of head injuries?
Ans: Head injuries can be caused by motor vehicle accidents, falls, physical
assaults, and sports-related accidents. Symptoms include headache,
lightheadedness, confusion, nausea, and temporary ringing in the ears.
32) What are the treatment options for brain tumors and
intracerebral hemorrhage?
Ans: Treatment options depend on the type and size of the tumor, as well as
the patient's general health. Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy,
chemotherapy, and other medications. Intracerebral hemorrhage may require
clotting factor administration, blood pressure control, and surgery.
33) What is a concussion and how is it characterized?
Ans: A concussion is a temporary loss of neurologic function with no
apparent structural damage, lasting for a few seconds to a few minutes. It occurs
due to a jarring of the brain that causes it to stop functioning momentarily.
34) What is a contusion and how does it differ from a concussion?
Ans: A contusion is a more severe brain injury in which the brain is bruised,
with possible surface hemorrhage. It results in unconsciousness for more than a
few seconds or minutes. The picture is somewhat similar to that of shock.
35) What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
Ans: MS is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy
nerve cells.
36) What is the main problem with MS?
Ans: The protective sheath around nerve cells (myelin) is damaged, disrupting
nerve signals.
37) What are the types of MS?
Ans: There are four types: Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS), Relapsing-
Remitting MS (RRMS), Primary Progressive MS (PPMS), and Secondary
Progressive MS (SPMS).
38) What are the common symptoms of MS?
Ans: Symptoms include numbness, weakness, vision problems, tremors,
coordination issues, slurred speech, fatigue, dizziness, and tingling or pain.
39) Can MS be cured?
Ans: No, there is currently no cure for MS, but treatment can manage
symptoms and slow progression.
40) How is MS diagnosed?
Ans: Diagnosis involves blood tests, spinal tap (lumbar puncture), and MRI
scans.
41) What is the goal of MS treatment?
Ans: Treatment aims to manage symptoms, reduce relapses, and slow disease
progression.
42) What are disease-modifying therapies?
Ans: These are medications that reduce the frequency and severity of MS
relapses.
43) How can I manage my MS?
Ans: Eating a healthy diet, exercising daily, managing stress, not smoking, and
limiting alcohol intake can help.
44) Can MS be prevented?
Ans: While there is no sure way to prevent MS, a healthy lifestyle and
managing stress may reduce the risk.
45) What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
Ans: MS is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy
nerve cells.
46) What is the main problem in MS?
Ans: The protective sheath around nerve cells (myelin) is damaged, disrupting
nerve signals.
 47) What are the types of MS?
Ans: There are four types: Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS), Relapsing-
Remitting MS (RRMS), Primary Progressive MS (PPMS), and Secondary
Progressive MS (SPMS).
48) What are the common symptoms of MS?
Ans: Symptoms include numbness, weakness, vision problems, tremors,
coordination issues, slurred speech, fatigue, dizziness, and tingling or pain.
49) Can MS be cured?
Ans: No, there is currently no cure for MS, but treatment can manage
symptoms and slow progression.
50) How is MS diagnosed?
Ans: Diagnosis involves blood tests, spinal tap (lumbar puncture), and MRI
scans.
51) What is the goal of MS treatment?
Ans: Treatment aims to manage symptoms, reduce relapses, and slow disease
progression.
52) What are disease-modifying therapies?
Ans: These are medications that reduce the frequency and severity of MS
relapses.
53) How can I manage my MS?
Ans: Eating a healthy diet, exercising daily, managing stress, not smoking, and
limiting alcohol intake can help.
54) Can MS be prevented?
Ans: While there is no sure way to prevent MS, a healthy lifestyle and
managing stress may reduce the risk.
55) What is Alzheimer's disease?
Answer: A deterioration of intellectual capabilities, memory, judgment, and
personality that seriously impairs daily functioning and quality of life.

56) Who is the disease named after?

Answer: German neurologist Alois Alzheimer.
 57) How many cases of Alzheimer's are there in the US?
Answer: Over 4 million.
58) How many people die from Alzheimer's each year in the US?
Answer: Over 100,000.
59) What is the average age when symptoms of Alzheimer's begin?
Answer: 65.
60) What is the main symptom of early-stage Alzheimer's?
Answer: Short-term memory loss.
61) What is the longest stage of Alzheimer's?
Answer: Moderate Alzheimer's disease (middle stage).
62) What is the most severe stage of Alzheimer's?
Answer: Severe Alzheimer's disease (late stage…
63) What structure lies below the corpus callosum and on either
side of the third ventricle?
Answer: Lateral Tela choroidal and internal cerebral veins.
64) What is the function of the thalamus?
Answer: Integrating sensory information, memory, emotional behavior, and
motor functions.
65) Which thalamic nucleus is concerned with auditory relay?
Answer: Medial geniculate body.
66) Which thalamic nucleus is concerned with visual relay?
Answer: Lateral geniculate body.
67) What is the role of the pulvinar nucleus?
Answer: Visual association.
68) What is the function of the hypothalamus?
Answer: Maintaining the internal environment of the body, regulating
consciousness, and stimulating feelings of wakefulness and alertness.
 69) Which part of the hypothalamus is responsible for GI
stimulation?
Answer: Dorsomedial nucleus.
70) Which part of the hypothalamus is responsible for satiety?
Answer: Ventromedial nucleus.
71) Which part of the hypothalamus is responsible for oxytocin
release?
Answer: Paraventricular nucleus.
72) What is the function of the supraoptic nucleus?
Answer: Vasopressin release.