EL1: Neurodegenerative Diseases

A progressive neurological disorder of muscle movement, characterized by tremors, muscular rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural gait abnormalities.

• Alzheimer’s Disease

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Seizure Disorder

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Correlated with the destruction of the dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra, it is associated with the development of intracellular protein aggregates known as lewy bodies.

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Alzheimer’s Disease

• Seizure Disorder

Raphe nuclei - Serotonin

Locus Ceruleus - Norepinephrine

Substantia nigra - _____

• Epinephrine

• Endorphin

• Dopamine

• Oxytocin

The following are the pathophysiology of Parkinsonism, except:

• Lower levels of dopamine

• Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra

• Higher levels of dopaminergic neurons

• None of the above

This symptoms of Parkinsonism refers to the patient’s inability to bend.

• Rigidity

• Akinesia

• Postural Instability

• Shuffling Gait

Answer explanation

The following are the symptoms of Parkinsonism: TRAPS

Tremors - involuntary shaking or trembling (similar to shivering when cold; in layman’s term, pasmado).

Rigidity - Inability to bent or muscle stiffness.

Akinesia - Loss of movement

Postural instability - Literally a bad posture (koko).

Shuffling gait - Slowness of movement (dragging the other foot instead of walking properly).

Based on research, Parkinson’s disease afflicts approximately 1 million of individuals in the US aged 35-85. What is the peak of onset age of Parkinson’s disease?

• Early 40s

• Early 60s

• Late 40s

• Late 60s

The following are the options for therapy of Parkinson’s disease, except:

• Increase dopamine

• Increase MAO and COMT

• Decrease Acetylcholine

• Decrease MAO and COMT

This metabolic precursor of dopamine restores dopaminergic neurotransmission in the neostriatum by enhancing synthesis of dopamine in the surviving neurons in the substantia nigra and offers symptomatic relief only.

• Carbidopa

• Pergolide

• Levodopa

• Carbamazepine

This dopamine decarboxylase inhibitor diminishes the metabolism of levodopa in the periphery and increase the availability of Levodopa to the CNS.

• Levodopa

• Bromocriptine

• Pramipexole

• Carbidopa

These drugs are the first line therapy for Parkinson’s disease.

• Levodopa-Carbidopa

• Bromocriptine and Pergolide

• Entacapone and Tolcapone

• Ropinirole and Pramipexole