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akathisia
psychomotor restlessness; an intense sensation of uneasiness or inner restlessness that usually involves the lower extremities and results in a compulsion to move
alpha-synuclein
neuronal protein that regulates synaptic vesicle coordination and subsequent neurotransmitter release
anhidrosis
lack of sweating due to decreased sweat glands
ataxia
impaired balance and coordination that can affect any part of the body and speech
atrophy
decrease in size or waste away, especially as a result of cellular degeneration
autoimmune
when the body's immune system cannot tell the difference between its own cells and foreign cells, the immune components mistakenly attack healthy body cells
ballismus
rapid, involuntary jerking or flinging of proximal muscle groups
bradykinesia
slowness of movement or progressive hesitations
catecholamine
monoamine neurotransmitters released in response to physical or emotional stress (e.g., epinephrine, dopamine)
choreoathetosis
slow, involuntary, writhing movements
demyelination
damage to the myelin sheath that results in slowing or stopping of nerve impulses, leading to neurological problems
diplopia
double vision—seeing two of the same image
dysarthria
difficulty with formulating words to speak
dyskinesia
abnormality or impairment of voluntary movement
dysphagia
difficulty swallowing
dystonia
movement disorder where muscles contract involuntarily, causing repetitive or twisting movements
exacerbation
increase in the severity of a disease or its signs and symptoms
immunoglobulins
glycoprotein molecules produced by B lymphocytes (plasma cells) that act as a critical part of the immune response by specifically recognizing and binding to particular antigens and aiding in their destruction
Lhermitte sign
transient electric shock sensation down the spine and extremities caused by neck flexion; most notably caused by MS
lipoatrophy
localized loss of adipose tissue
lymphocyte
type of white blood cell that plays an essential role in the immune response (B and T lymphocytes); made in the bone marrow and found in the blood and lymph tissue
macrophages
large, specialized connective tissue cells that recognize, engulf, and destroy target cells
micrographia
handwriting that is very small
myelin sheath
protective insulated covering surrounding nerve fibers in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves
neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by symptoms of confusion or altered mental states, muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, arrhythmias, and autonomic instability
neuropathic pain
pain that originates within the CNS or PNS resulting from damage or disease
nystagmus
involuntary oscillating eye movements that are usually rapid, repetitive, and uncontrolled
oligodendrocytes
type of non-neuronal cells in the CNS that do not produce electrical impulses; main functions are to provide support and insulation to axons in the CNS
Parkinson’s disease (PD)
a progressive neurologic condition that destroys the pigmented dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra
plaques
deposits of neuron fragments surrounding a core of fibrillary amyloid beta-protein
progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
opportunistic, life-threatening viral infection of the brain caused by the John Cunningham virus
proliferating
multiplying or increasing in number
remissions
decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms
rigidity
continuous involuntary sustained muscle contraction that when passively stretched, the degree of resistance remains constant
tardive dyskinesia
movement disorder characterized by uncontrollable, abnormal, and repetitive movements of the face, torso, and/or other body parts
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