Symptom Advice .com » neurotransmitter dopamine

Link administered between cognitive training and biological structure of the brain – Health Jockey

Symptom Advice — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:51:05 +0000

A new study has first time revealed the complex interaction between cognition and the biological structure of the human brain. through scans, they have shown that the active training of the working memory triggers noticeable changes in the number of dopamine D1 receptors in the brain cortex. This study was conducted by the Karolinska Institutet.

Professor Torkel Klingberg, who led the study, says that, “Brain biochemistry doesn’t just underpin our mental activity; our mental activity and thinking process can also affect the biochemistry. This hasn’t been demonstrated in humans before, and opens up a floodgate of fascinating questions.”

It is stated that the neurotransmitter dopamine is a key element in certain functions of the brain. Thus, a disturbance in the dopamine system could adversely affect the process of the memory, which could in turn make recollection of data over a short period of time difficult. Impaired working memory is found to be, in turn, linked to various cognitive related complications like schizophrenia and ADHD.

The study investigators had earlier revealed that an enhancement of the working memory could be undertaken through a few weeks of intensive training. In unison with the Stockholm Brain Institute, these investigators attempted to better understand this issue. In the present study, through the use of Positron Emission Tomography they have assessed the brain.

The study authors say that the answer to poor working memory cannot be given by the changes noticed in the number of dopamine receptors in the brain. These changes could have taken place as a result of the absence of memory training, or even other environmental factors. they hope to soon discover new treatments that include both memory training and treatment drugs.

They state that their findings could benefit patients suffering from cognitive impairments linked to stroke, chronic fatigue syndrome, ageing, etc.

Their findings are published in the Science journal.

A Parkinson’s Glossary N – Z

Symptom Advice — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:51:11 +0000

NNeurodegenerativeDiseases in which the nervous system degenerates, like Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's. They are characterized by the loss of cells in the central nervous system. NeurotransmitterYour body makes special chemicals that help carry messages from the brain to nerve cells and between nerve cells. These are called neurotransmitters. The loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine is the cause of most of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. NorepinephrineA neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of well-being. Studies show that as Parkinson's disease progresses, levels of norepinephrine are reduced, and researchers speculate that it may be the end result of a process that starts with the loss of dopamine. OOn-Off PhenomenonA side effect of long term therapy with levodopa, the most common treatment for Parkinson's disease. The on-off phenomenon is described as `fluctuations in the ability to move'. It's a sign that the effectiveness of L-dopa is wearing off.Off Patients and doctors describe the difference between when medication is working and when it is not in terms of `off' and `on'. When the medication is not working, or is wearing off, the patient is `off', and the Parkinson's symptoms reappear.OnWhen medication is working at its best, the state of motor activity is described as `on'. PPDAbbreviation for Parkinson's disease.PalilaliaStuttering or stammering in speech. When Parkinson's disease affects the muscles that control speech, palilalia is one of the results.PallidotomyA surgical treatment to help relieve the symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease. It involves the destruction of a small group of cells in the globus pallidus to prevent `scrambled messages' from leaving the brain and causing abnormal movements and other symptoms. ParanoiaA symptom of dementia that appears in some patients with late stage Parkinson's disease. It is a belief that others are `out to get' the patient in the absence of any evidence. It is one of many psychological conditions that researchers believe eventually result from the lose of the dopamine producing cells in the brain. Parkinson's MaskBecause Parkinson's disease affects small muscle movement, both voluntary and involuntary, facial expressions are often affected in people who have Parkinson's. This results in an unmoving, mask-like expression that is referred to as Parkinson's mask Parkinsonian SyndromesA number of disorders that are related to Parkinson's disease and share some of the symptoms, particularly bradykinesia and rigidity and tremor. They have other symptoms and pathology that distinguish them from Parkinson's disease, though. ParkinsonismParkonsonism is a clinical term that refers to an entire group of conditions that share the most typical symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Postural InstabilityA term that simply means problems with balance. Postural TremorOne of the tremors associated with Parkinson's disease. a postural tremor gets worse when you stretch your hands out in front of you. PrognosisA medical term that means `what will probably happen in this disease'. Most people use it to mean the eventual outcome of a disease. PropulsionForward movement, usually associated with walking. PsychosisOne of the symptoms of dementia which is sometimes a result of Parkinson's disease. It's characterized by losing contact with reality, and includes delusions, hallucinations and paranoia. RRange of MotionRange of motion is a measure of how far a joint will move between completely straight to fully bent. Rigidity that is associated with Parkinson's disease compromises the range of motion by affecting the muscles dependent on the joint. Resting TremorGenerally, the first symptom of Parkinson's disease that is noticed. It's a shaking that happens when a limb is relaxed. RetropulsionStumbling or falling backwards. It's a term that's used to describe one of the problems of balance in Parkinson's disease.RigidityOne of the five major symptoms of Parkinson's disease, rigidity is tightness or tensing in the muscle when it is at rest. a patient may feel is as `stiffness'. SSerotoninOne of the neurotransmitters produced by the brain. People in the later stages of Parkinson's disease often have reduced levels of serotonin, which leads researchers to believe that there is a subtle connection between dopamine levels and the ability of the brain to produce other chemical neurotransmitters.Shaking PalsyWhen James Parkinson originally described the symptoms of the disease that is named for him, he called it `shaking palsy'. SialorrheaThe medical term for drooling, which is often seen in late stage Parkinson's disease.Side EffectAn effect of taking a drug that is different from the reason for which it is prescribed. many of the drugs prescribed to treat Parkinson's disease have side effects that interfere with normal functioning.StriatumA part of the brain that contains dopamine receptors. It is the largest part of the basal ganglia and controls walking, balance and movement. Substantia NigraThe part of the brain that is affected by Parkinson's disease. It's located in the brainstem, and contains the cells that produce dopamine. It's the loss of those cells that produce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. TThalamic (or Pallidal) StimulationOne of the newer treatments for Parkinson's disease that involves electrically stimulating cells in the thalamus or globus pallidus to treat symptoms of Parkinson's, rather than surgically destroying the cells. ThalmatomyA traditional treatment to stop tremors on one side of the body. It involves surgically destroying a small group of cells in the thalamus, and results in improving the symptoms of tremors on the opposite side of the body. the side of the body opposite the surgery.ThalamusA major area of the brain that receives information from the basal ganglia. One treatment for symptoms of Parkinson's disease is to destroy a small group of cells in the thalamusTremorOne of the major symptoms of Parkinson's disease. a tremor is the rhythmic shaking of a limb that occurs when the muscles are at rest, or when they are initiating (or starting) a movement. In later stages, tremors may also appear during movements. WWearing-Off The end period of effectiveness of a dose of L-dopa, used to treat Parkinson's disease. In long-term treatment, the wearing-off period often occurs after only a few hours, long before the next dose is due.

=> Recommended Parkinson’s Disease Resource: All About Parkinson’s

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Healthcare: Parkinson : Definition, symptoms, diagnosis, invertension, evaluation

Symptom Advice — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:34:10 +0000

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Name of Parkinson’s disease took its name from its discoverer, James Parkinson. Parkinson degeneration is a disease that attacks the brain due to a lack of dopamine in the brain.

More specifically, when the substantia nigra, a nerve cell in the brain, will be damaged, it stop producing the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical responsible for the movement of muscles in the body, it will hence causing disturbance called Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson vulnerable age is 60 years although one of the 20 cases of patients attacks on aged 40. Parkinson’s disease prevalence in the world reached about 6.3 million. A total of 1.6 per 100 people over 65 years and one per 50 people above 80 years old attacked by Parkinson.

The main symptoms are movement disorders and non-motor disturbances. in many people with Parkinson’s, there is a cognitive disorder in a variety of difficulty of Parkinson. Parkinson diseases preventable and curable because the cause itself is difficult to know. When an individuals lost more than 80 supply of dopamine, a substance important in the process of sending signals between brain nerve cells to regulate the movement, then the individual will experience some symptoms of Parkinson’s such as:
1. shivering uncontrollably in the arms or legs when at rest.
2. rigid limbs.
3. slowed movement, impaired walking and balance disorders.

Parkinson’s disease had clinical symptoms as follows:
1. Bradikinesia (slow movement), disappeared spontaneously.
2. Persistent tremor.
3. Actions and movements that are not controlled.
4. Autonomic nervous disorders (sleeplessness, sweating, orthostatic hypo tension).
5. Depression and dementia.
6. Face like a mask (dry skin).
7. Frequency of nightmares that too often can be one of the earliest signs of Parkinson’s disease.
people who experience sleep disturbance REM (rapid eye movement / sleeping rough) and likes to kick and beat while sleeping, they will have high risk of dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

REM or rapid eye movement stage of sleep can be happen when people have a dream. People who sleep normally be ‘paralyzed’ effectively at this stage, because the brain enables the muscles to rest properly.

But people who have REM sleep disorder, they usually will experience nightmares and violent movements such as kicking and hitting while sleeping.

Note: Be careful in using materials that contain pesticides because of piling of pesticides in the body can cause Parkinson’s disease. therefore, the people whose job requires that he do a lot of contact with pesticides should be vigilant. Free radical metabolism of the body or substance that is poisonous to the nerves like iron, herbicides, pesticides, can cause degeneration of neurons (cells introductory impulses in the nervous system) and brain cell damage in substantia nigra. As a result, dopamine levels in the brain decreases.

Low levels of dopamine, can cause interference on the part of the brain that regulate movement that can be arranged (volunteers) and create movements that can not be regulated (involunteer).

To reduce these symptoms, it can be done with some therapies such as levodopa, carbidopa, and entacapone which helps people with Parkinson to control their body movements.

More complete explanation:
1. Anticholinergics to reduce excessive cholinergic transmission when the shortage of dopamine.
2. Levodopa, a precursor of dopamine, in combination with carbidopa, carboxylic acid inhibitor, to assist the reduction of L-dopa in the blood and brain repair.
3. Bromociptin, dopamine agonists that activate the dopamine response in the brain.
4. Amantidin which can increase the fraction of dopamine in the brain.
5. using mono amine oxidase inhibitors such as deprenil for delaying the onset of disability and the need for levodopa therapy.

Diagnosis and Intervention
1. Impaired physical mobility related to bradikinesia, rigidities marked by tremors, muscle and DS: client said it was difficult to do activities, DO: tremors while on the move.

Intervention:
Objective: To increase mobility.

* help clients daily exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming or gardening.
* Encourage clients to stretch and exercise as directed postural therapists.
* Wash with warm water and a client to do sorting to help muscle relaxation.
* Instruct the client to rest on a regular basis in order to avoid the shortcomings and frustrations.
* Teach for postural exercise and walking techniques to reduce the stiffness when walking and possibly learn to continue.
* Instruct the client to walk with an open leg position.
* Create a client raised his hand with consciousness, lift the foot when walking, use the shoes for walking, and walking with step length.
* Tell the client to walk to the rhythm of music to help improve the sensory.

Evaluation: client sessions of physical therapy, facial exercise 10 minutes two times a day.

2. Fulfillment of nutritional disorders: less than body requirements, its related to the difficulty like : moving food, chewing, and swallowing, marked by DS: client said it was difficult to eat, weight is reduced DO: thin, weighing less than 20% ideal body weight, pale conjunctiva, and pale mucous membranes.

Intervention:
Objective: To optimize the nutritional status.

* Teach your clients to think while swallow-shut lips and teeth together, lifting the tongue with food on it, then move to the back of the tongue and swallowing, lifting his head backward.
* Instruct client to chewing and swallowing, using a second wall of the mouth.
* Tell the client to consciously control the accumulation of saliva and swallowing by holding the head periodically.
* Provide a sense of security to the client, with a stable eating and using the equipment.
* Encourage eating in small portions and add a snack (a snack).
* Monitor your weight.

Evaluation: the client can eat three times in small portions and two snacks, no weight loss.

3. Impaired verbal communication related to the decline in speech and facial muscle stiffness characterized by: DS: client / family say there is difficulty in speaking DO: elusive words, pelf, his face stiff.

Intervention:
Objective: To maximize the ability to communicate.

* keep the complications of treatment.
* Refer to speech therapy.
* Teach your clients and facial exercises using breathing methods to improve the words, volume, and intonation.
* Breath-in before speaking to increase the volume and number of words in sentences each breathe.
* Train to speak in short sentences, reading aloud in front of the glass or into a voice recorder (tape recorders) to monitor progress.

Evaluation: the lack of difficulty in speech, words can be understood.

In addition, also introduced music therapy, which helps disabled start a movement based on music rhythm.When listening to music, the brain becomes active to stimulate active listening and moving again. it is also creating a relaxed atmosphere, and improve patient mood. Rhythm help sufferers to get up and move. each patient differences in response to the music that you listen to them. there are after hearing the gamelan and angklung became engaged. all were influenced emotion or past and cultural background of the patient. Stimulation must done just 30 minutes, every day or at least twice a week. in addition to helping Parkinson’s patients moving, listening to music that they like also help patients who have sleeping difficulty become easy to sleep. Meanwhile, other than music therapy, there are also therapies conducted by gymnastics, dance, meditation, nutrition, and therapeutic recreation in nature. To cure Parkinson’s disease must continues to get better results.