| A | B |
|---|
| alanine aminotransferase (ALT) | liver enzyme |
| dementia | a decrease in cognitive functioning |
| Alzheimer's disease (AD) | pthologic changes occur in the cortex of the brain, involving the degeneration of nerves into amyloid plaques & tangled nerve bundles; symptoms become progressively worse in three stages |
| chlinesterase inhibitors | drugs used to treat early & moderate stages of dementia associated with AD |
| achalasia | failure of the muscles of the lowere esophagus to relax, causing difficulty swallowing |
| bradykinesia | slow movement |
| blood-brain barrier | a meshwork of tightly packed cells in the walls of the brain's capillaries that screen out certain substances such as large and potentially harmful molecules from crossing into the brain |
| choreiform movements | involuntary muscular twitching of the limbs or facial muscles |
| on-off phenomenon | the client may suddenly alternate between improved clinical status to loss of therapeutic effect, usually associated with long-term levodopa treatment |
| parkinsonism | group of symptoms involving motor movement, characterized by tremors, rigidity & slow movement |
| Parkinson's disease | most common form of parkinsonism. Speech becomes slurred, face takes on a masklike & emotionless expression, the person may have difficulty chewing & swallowing |
| dopaminergic drugs | drugs that affect the dopamine content of the brain |
| levodopa | chemical formulation found in plants & animals that is converted into dopamine by the body |
| agonists | drugs that work to stimulate the dopamine receptors |
| antiparkinsonism drugs | either supplement the dopamine in the brain or block excess acetylcholine so that better transmission or nerve impulses occurs |
| Most serious adverse reactions seen with levodopa | choreiform movement & dystonic movements |
| dystonic movements | muscular spasms most often affecting the tongue, jaw, eyes & neck |
| anticholinergics | used as adjunctive therapy in parkinsonism & in the control of drug-induced extrapyramidal disorders |
