AGING AND TRAUMA Key Points

AGING AND TRAUMA

Key PointsIncreased longevity results in increased neurological disorders‘Normal’ age-related changes in brain structure Neurodegenerative diseases – abnormal changes with ageBasic knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease – neuropathology, genesBasic understanding of Parkinson’s diseaseRole of genetic versus environmental factorsStroke – infarct and haemorrhageTraumatic injuries to brain and spinal cord, primary - secondary eventsKnowledge of reactions to axonal injuryGlial cell changesDifferences between CNS and PNS injury

ReadingCrossman and Neary. pgs 13-17, 21, 27, 54-56, 127, 158Kiernan (7th Ed), pgs 31-35, 38, 59-62, 103-104Nolte (4th Ed), pgs 35, 89-94, 490-492Fitzgerald, 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 beta-amyloid, 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

Parkinson’s disease and dopamine cell loss

Neurodegenerative diseases

Early diagnosis and neuroprotection, or cell replacement?

Parkinson’s Disease

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Huntington’s Normal

Multiple sclerosis

Traumatic and vascular accidents

The mammalian nervous system

brain

spinal cord

CNS

PNS

Spinal Cord Injury