Degenerative or Debilitative Neurologic Syndromes.
1Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, 461 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37240, USA.
The Nursing Clinics of North America
|August 14, 2018
Summary
Neurodegenerative disorders progressively impair neurologic function, impacting cognition and movement. Current treatments manage symptoms, but no cures exist, though new therapies are under development.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive conditions causing debilitating neurologic dysfunction.
- Dementia and Parkinson disease are common examples affecting cognition and movement, respectively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize current understanding and management of neurodegenerative disorders.
- To highlight the limitations in existing therapies and ongoing research.
Main Methods:
- Review of current medical literature and treatment guidelines.
- Synthesis of information on dementia, Parkinson disease, and other neurodegenerative syndromes.
Main Results:
- Dementia management involves workup, cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, and treatment of behavioral symptoms.
- Parkinson disease treatment focuses on levodopa for motor symptoms, with assessment of associated symptoms.
- No curative or disease-modifying therapies are currently available for these disorders.
Conclusions:
- Symptomatic treatments are available for dementia and Parkinson disease.
- Research into novel therapies and disease-modifying treatments is ongoing for neurodegenerative disorders.
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