neural disorders advances and challenges. why study neural diseases? application of neuroscience...
TRANSCRIPT
Neural Disorders
Advances and Challenges
Why Study Neural Diseases?
Application of neuroscienceComing together of research and
medical applicationsCost: Alzheimer’s alone costs the U.S.
150 billion dollars a year
Addiction
• 9% of Americans abuse drugs…
• Drug abuse Drug Addiction– Altered structure and
chemical brain makeup
• Abused drugs activate brain reward system
• Tolerance, dependence
Alcohol
• Legal and Addictive• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome– 2/1000 births
• Ethanol-active ingridient– Reduces anxiety and
tension– depressant– effects GABA and NMDA
Club Drugs• Ecstasy, Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine• Ecstasy (MDMA)– synthetic psychoactive drug– hallucinogen– long term changes in memory, thought
• Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine– CNS depressants– “Special” K: anesthetic
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHG8cjI5B-w
Marijuana and Nicotine
• Marijuana• tetrahydracannabinol– THC receptors
control movement, memory
• Endocannabinoids– Anandamide
• Nicotine• Tobacco is leading
preventable cause of death in U.S.
• Cholinergic receptors• Release of epinephrine,
glucose• Suppression of insulin• Releases DA in brain
regions controlling motivation
Opiates
• Increase DA in brain rewards system
• Mimic effects of endogenous opioids
• Brief rush of intense euphoria• Relieve pain, depress breathing– OD: many literally stop breathing
• Methadone and Naloxone /Naltrexone
Brain Reward System
• Evolved to mediate pleasurable effects of natural rewards– eating when hungry– drinking when thirsty
• Drugs activate system and promote continued use
Alzheimer’s Disease
What do you know?
Alzheimer’s Disease
• Forgetfulness, disorientation• Patients often die from pneumonia or illness
related to immobility• Reductions in– acetylcholines, somatostasin, monoamines,
glutamate
• Cellular symptoms: • Beta amyloid plaques, Neurofibrillary (Tau) tangles• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjgBnx1jVIU
Anxiety Disorders• OCD– Obsessive Compulsive Disorder– Repetitive thoughts, behaviors– Affects 5-6 million Americans
• PTSD: – Sever trauma– Dysregulation of hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis, major
depression– High norepineprine levels– PFC can no longer inhibit amygdala activation
Attention Deficit Hyperactvity Disorder
• Diagnosis difficult and can mainly only be done by evaluation and behavioral observation: no objective test exists
• Smaller volume and reduced activity in cortical-striatal-cerebellar circuits
• Weakened prefrontal regulation of behavior• Stimulant drugs used for treatment despite
negative side effects
Autism
• Communication difficulties
• Impaired social skills• Developmental:
disruption in neuron proliferation and migration
• Specialized education and learning environments needed
Bipolar Disorder
• Alternating episodes of deep depression and manic highs
• Increased risk of suicide
• Lithium treatment– safe and very effective
• New anticonvulsants- mood stabilization
Brain Tumors• Primary brain tumor-
within brain– metastatic spread from
other area• Symptoms vary by location
– headaches, seizures, blurred vision
• Gliomas: malignant brain tumors– release toxic amounts of
glutamate• Increased intracranial
pressure
Brain Tumors - Treatment• Surgery- depends on size +
location of tumor• Radiation- Stop progress of
tumor and shrink• Chemotherapy- destroy
remaining cells after surgery• Monoclonal antibodies• Anti-angiogenic therapy- cut
off blood flow• Immunotherapy• Gene therapy- engineered
genes placed in tumor cells
Down Syndrome• Most frequently
occurring chromosomal condition
• extra chromosome 21• As age of mother
increases, so does risk of disease
• Intellectual disabilities, low muscle tone, flat face
• Cognitive decline similar to Alzheimer’s by age 40