Transcript Brain Diseases & Disorders

Brain Diseases & Disorders
Wait a minute…
What is the
difference between a
disease and a
disorder?
Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) of the
cranium and upper
neck (lateral view)
Disease vs. Disorder
• In common usage, disease and disorder are
interchangeable.
• Even their definitions are unclear sometimes in science
books.
For our purposes:
Disease:
 transmittable
 you can catch it
 caused by something
external
Disorder:
 not transmittable
 you can’t catch it
 caused by something inside
– like genetics
Electrical
Chemical
Mechanical
Causes of
Brain
Disorders&
Diseases
Mixed
Cause
Note: Environmental factors must always be considered in
addition to those listed above.
Aphasia
• An inability to use or understand language
• Occurs because language areas become damaged
(mechanical force, stroke, tumor…)
• Damage to the brain is permanent. Speech and language
therapy is possible.
Hydrocephalus
• Literally means “water brain”
• Occurs when there is a blockage in the natural flow of the
CSF.
• Treated by using surgical shunts – little devices which
help drain the fluid off the brain.
Traumatic Brain Injury
• Any mechanical force which damages the brain
• Numerous symptoms arise (hemorrhages, hematomas,
etc.)
• Primary treatment – stabilize and prevent further injury.
Secondary – rehabilitation.
Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident)
• Occurs when blood vessels in the brain become
disturbed.
• This leads to a lack of blood flow and loss of that area
• Treatment includes various medications or mechanical
methods (removing blockages, etc.)
Bipolar Disorder
• Caused by a number of factors: chemicals, environment,
genetics…
• Includes rapid cycles of moods. Highs – mania, lows depression
• Treatment includes various medications and/or
counseling.
Schizophrenia
• Entomology – schizein, “to split” and phren, “mind”
[Greek]
• Can be caused by social, biological,
and psychological factors and multiple
brain regions
• Treatment includes various
medications (i.e. risperidone) and
therapies
Phobias
• From the Greek “phobos” –
“fear”
• Linked to the amygdala. The
amygdala controls fear and
agression.
• Behavioral therapy, medicines,
even using virtual reality to
desensitize the fear
Remind me to show
you all the types of
phobias online
Seizures
• Caused by malfunctioning neurons in the brain
• There are different types of seizures depending
on severity and the parts of the brain they effect
• Medicine and management
Addiction/Addictive Tendencies
• Can manifest in many forms
• Explained currently by a biopsychosocial model. (In
English: genetics, your brain/mind, and
environment/society influence this)
• Treatments can be chemical or therapy related.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
• Many disorders fall in this area. The common thing is
a lack of social skills.
• Treatment is through therapy. Some “highfunctioning” individuals lead normal lives. Interesting,
some display superior memory skills and can be
geniuses in one area (i.e. piano)