Brain injuriesBrain injuries

ConcussionConcussionSlight brain injurySlight brain injuryNO permanent damageNO permanent damageSymptoms:Symptoms:

DizzinessDizziness““seeing stars”seeing stars”Brief loss of consciousnessBrief loss of consciousness

Sports related concussionsSports related concussions

300,000 per year300,000 per year

Preventing further damagePreventing further damage Currently trainers use Currently trainers use

a crude memory test a crude memory test to determine if players to determine if players should go back into should go back into the game.the game.

Current Research:Current Research: Handheld device takes Handheld device takes

EEG from magnetic strip EEG from magnetic strip placed on foreheadplaced on forehead

Riddell Sports Group Riddell Sports Group developed concussion developed concussion sensing helmetsensing helmet

$1000/helmet$1000/helmetConcussion Helmets

Cerebral contusionCerebral contusionCaused by a powerful blow to the headCaused by a powerful blow to the headMarked tissue damage due to the soft Marked tissue damage due to the soft

tissue of the brain slamming against the tissue of the brain slamming against the rigid bone.rigid bone.

““bruising of the brain”bruising of the brain”Can lead to:Can lead to:

HemorrhageHemorrhageCerebral edemaCerebral edemacomacoma

GlasGow Coma ScaleGlasGow Coma Scale

3-8 = coma

Strokes (cva)Strokes (cva) CCerebroerebroVVascular ascular AAccidentccident 33rdrd leading cause of death leading cause of death

in the USin the US Vital brain tissue dies due Vital brain tissue dies due

to lack of blood supplyto lack of blood supply After a stroke, physicians After a stroke, physicians

can usually determine the can usually determine the area of stroke by the area of stroke by the patients symptomspatients symptoms

What's it like to have a What's it like to have a stroke?stroke?

StrokeStroke Inability to speakInability to speak

Damage to left Damage to left cerebral hemisphere cerebral hemisphere (Broca’s area for (Broca’s area for language)language)

AphasiaAphasia It is possible that It is possible that

neurons can spread neurons can spread into that area and into that area and take over some lost take over some lost functionfunction phenomenonphenomenon

Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s diseaseDegenerative disease of Degenerative disease of

the brain resulting in the brain resulting in dementiadementia

5-15% over 65 develop 5-15% over 65 develop ADAD

½ over 85 die of AD½ over 85 die of ADMemory loss, language Memory loss, language

loss, mental deterioration, loss, mental deterioration, change in personalitychange in personality

Physiology of alzheimer’sPhysiology of alzheimer’s

Gyri shrinkGyri shrinkBrain atrophiesBrain atrophiesAbnormal protein Abnormal protein

depositsdepositsAssociated to Associated to

shortage of AChshortage of ACh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1YI3pNATCU

Parkinson’s diseaseParkinson’s disease Caused by Caused by

degeneration of degeneration of dopamine releasing dopamine releasing neurons that target neurons that target the basal nucleithe basal nuclei Result is an overactive Result is an overactive

basal nucleibasal nuclei Persistant tremors, Persistant tremors,

head rolling, stiff head rolling, stiff facial expressionsfacial expressions

Cause unknownCause unknown

treatmenttreatmentL-dopa alleviates symptoms, but is L-dopa alleviates symptoms, but is

not a curenot a cureSide effects:Side effects:

Severe nauseaSevere nauseaDizzinessDizzinessLiver damageLiver damage

Controversial treatment: stem cellsControversial treatment: stem cells Implant of fetal tissue shows some Implant of fetal tissue shows some

promisepromisehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8lsjfjgAA8

Huntington’s DiseaseHuntington’s DiseaseA progressive, degenerative disease A progressive, degenerative disease

that causes certain nerve cells in your that causes certain nerve cells in your brain to waste away brain to waste away Genetic disease leading to the Genetic disease leading to the

degeneration of the basal nuclei and degeneration of the basal nuclei and cerebral cortexcerebral cortex

Fatal within 15 yearsFatal within 15 yearsBlocking of dopamine effectsBlocking of dopamine effectsUncontrolled movements, mental Uncontrolled movements, mental

disturbances, loss of mental facultiesdisturbances, loss of mental faculties

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65xf1olEpQM&feature=related

ALS “lou gehrigs’s” disease ALS “lou gehrigs’s” disease

Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisAmyotrophic Lateral SclerosisA progressive neurodegenerative A progressive neurodegenerative

disease that affects nerve cells in the disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.brain and spinal cord.Degeneration of motor neurons leading Degeneration of motor neurons leading

ultimately to muscle atrophyultimately to muscle atrophyFatal within 3-5 yearsFatal within 3-5 years

alsals Since ALS attacks Since ALS attacks

only motor only motor neurons, the neurons, the sense of sight, sense of sight, touch, hearing, touch, hearing, taste and smell taste and smell are not affected.are not affected.

Rilutek Rilutek

Cerebral palsyCerebral palsy Neuromuscular disability in Neuromuscular disability in

which voluntary movement which voluntary movement is poorly controlled and is poorly controlled and spastic due to brain spastic due to brain damage.damage.

Largest single cause of Largest single cause of physical disability in physical disability in childrenchildren

Damage to the cerebrum Damage to the cerebrum before (congenital) or after before (congenital) or after birth.birth.

Multiple causesMultiple causes