Dec 14, 2014

Effects of Drugs on Coordination

Drugs that affect the nervous system have two primary effects: they impact the limbic system and either promote or decrease the action of a particular neurotransmitter. One such drug is nicotine, an alkaloid derived from tobacco. Nicotine causes neurons to release dopamine in the central nervous system (CNS), while stimulating post-synaptic receptors in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), leading to increased activity. Nicotine also increases heart rate and blood pressure, digestive tract mobility, and can even induce vomiting, as well as causing water retention in the kidney.

 

Common nervous disorders

There are several common nervous disorders, including Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease.

Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is caused by the death of cells in the brain that produce dopamine, resulting in symptoms such as slowness of movement, tremors, and rigidity. While the disease usually appears between the ages of 50 and 60, it progresses slowly, and patients may live for many years. Head trauma can also cause Parkinson's disease. Effective drugs for treating Parkinson's disease include L-dopa, carbidopa, and glial-derived growth neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which boosts the uptake of dopamine.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the convulsive disorders of nerves, characterized by abrupt transient symptoms of motor, sensory, psychic, or autonomic nature, frequently associated with changes in consciousness. The disease is believed to be caused by sudden, transient alterations in brain function associated with excessive rapid electric discharges in gray matter. Emotional disturbances can play a significant role in triggering seizures. Anticonvulsant drugs are used to treat epilepsy, and patients should avoid alcohol as it can aggravate the condition. Electroencephalography is an essential test in the study of epilepsy.

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease was first discovered by Alois Alzheimer in 1907. It is characterized by a gradual loss of reasoning that begins with memory lapses and ends with an inability to perform daily activities. Alzheimer's disease affects two key parts of the brain: the cortex of the cerebral hemisphere, which is the conscious part of the brain, and the hippocampus, which is involved with memory. The disease is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases that cause dementia. However, brain tissue under a microscope shows protein plaques accumulating outside brain cells and tangled deposits of protein appearing inside the cells. Both plaques and tangles are caused by the accumulation of abnormal proteins. There is evidence that high levels of aluminum may contribute to the onset of the disease, but it appears that a shortage of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain is a primary factor. Drugs that enhance acetylcholine production are available for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

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