Transcript Slide 1
AGING AND TRAUMA Key Points Increased longevity results in increased neurological disorders ‘Normal’ age-related changes in brain structure Neurodegenerative diseases – abnormal changes with age Basic knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease – neuropathology, genes Basic understanding of Parkinson’s disease Role of genetic versus environmental factors Stroke – infarct and haemorrhage Traumatic injuries to brain and spinal cord, primary - secondary events Knowledge of reactions to axonal injury Glial cell changes Differences between CNS and PNS injury Reading Crossman and Neary. pgs 13-17, 21, 27, 54-56, 127, 158 Kiernan (7th Ed), pgs 31-35, 38, 59-62, 103-104 Nolte (4th Ed), pgs 35, 89-94, 490-492 Fitzgerald, pgs 47-48, 53-55, 102-105, 215-217, 225, 234-235 AUSTRALIA Changes associated with ‘normal’ aging Brain shrinkage, regression of processes/synapses Inclusions Changes in levels of neurotransmitters and their receptors Degenerative diseases – abnormal aging Cortical plaques containing irregular cell processes and betaamyloid, activated glial cells. Cellular changes in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurofibrillary tangles in hippocampal neurons Altered blood vessels Older adults actually use different regions of the brain and more of the brain than younger adults to perform the same memory and information processing tasks. Overall, Reuter-Lorenz believes that older adults benefit from bi-hemispheric processing. Using two hemispheres instead of one, and more of the brain overall, may allow seniors to compensate for some of the mental declines that come with age. Exercise and trophic factor production in the adult brain Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid plaques, tangles Early versus late-onset Alzheimer’s disease APP, apoE, presenilins, tau Changes in neurochemistry (acetylcholine), receptor levels Neurodegenerative diseases Parkinson’s disease and dopamine cell loss ** Early diagnosis and neuroprotection, or cell replacement? Parkinson’s Disease Huntington’s Normal Multiple sclerosis Traumatic and vascular accidents The mammalian nervous system brain CNS spinal cord PNS Spinal Cord Injury