I agree that either disease can manifest itsel throughout areas for movement control 
(PD = basal ganglia, AD = pre-motor cortex?), and yes I agree that memory deficits can 
eventually lead one to "not remember" how to move.......just be careful using terms 
like remembering, for gait can be facilitated at a level of the CNS that is not 
cognitive, whereas a more complex skill may require cognition.......I guess what I am 
trying to say is that the neuroanatomical areas are different, yet, yes, some 
functional decline may be similar between the 2 pathologies.....BUT, I am not so sure 
that means you can refer to your first question about treating based on diagnosis and 
now say, since PD and AD show similar deficits, then we can trEAT THEM ONE IN THE SAME

?????? 

David A. Lehman, PhD, PT
Associate Professor
Tennessee State University
Department of Physical Therapy
3500 John A. Merritt Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37209
615-963-5946
[EMAIL PROTECTED]




-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Carson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 10:02 AM
To: Lehman, David
Subject: Re[2]: [OTnow] Parkinson's disease / Alzheimer's


Hey D:

I think the memory problem is where I get confused. For example, I evaluated
a  woman yesterday with advance Alz. He son, the caregiver, reports a recent
and  significant  decline in his Mom's ability to ambulate, transfer, assist
with  toileting and bathtub transfers. (these are what I was referring to as
'functional symptoms')

Now,  the question becomes is this a memory disorder or a movement disorder?
And can't a memory disorder manifest itself as a movement disorder. In other
words,  can't  a  person  forget how to move? Finally, doesn't PD eventually
effect  one's  cognition, including memory? IF so, wouldn't PD them become a
memory disorder.

It  seems  that  while etiology of PD and Alz may differ, the results of the
diseases are similar.

Ron



=================================================
Tuesday, December 2, 2003, 10:31:02 AM, you wrote:

LD> FUNCTIONAL SYMPTOMS?  not sure what you mean here...but, for the
LD> most part in PD there is a brain versus movement disorder and in AD it
LD> is more of a memory issue


LD> I think I answered your second question in my first
LD> response.....no, I would not treat the same

LD> My approach would be to assess the impairments that I feel
LD> contribute to the functional deficit and attempt to offer intervention
LD> that would improve the impairment thus function (i.e.  weight training
LD> to improve balance).  The person with AD would not be able to understand
LD> the weight training....so, I might use something more familiar to
LD> improve balance (like dance moves)

LD> So, did I answer your questions?  

LD> David A. Lehman, PhD, PT
LD> Associate Professor
LD> Tennessee State University
LD> Department of Physical Therapy
LD> 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd.
LD> Nashville, TN 37209
LD> 615-963-5946
LD> [EMAIL PROTECTED]




LD> -----Original Message-----
LD> From: Ron Carson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LD> Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 9:06 AM
LD> To: Lehman, David
LD> Subject: Re: [OTnow] Parkinson's disease / Alzheimer's


LD> Hello David:

LD> In  your  experience,  are the 'functional' symptoms of PD and Alz similiar?
LD> And  if  so  is  your treatment the same or would you treat a client with PD
LD> different  than  a  client  with  Alz?  Granted  ALL clients are individuals
LD> requiring  individual care but are their general treatment differences based
LD> on the client's diagnoses?

LD> Ron

LD> =================================================
LD> Tuesday, December 2, 2003, 9:25:18 AM, you wrote:

LD>> My understanding and experience of the mental changes/dementia due
LD>> to PD are related to the decrease in dopamine within the
LD>> nigro-striatal-cortical connections to the frontal lobe.  The mental
LD>> changes occur as the disease progresses.  It seems to cause a decreased
LD>> emotional investment in the movement I may be assessing (i.e. gait). 
LD>> Therefore, this has been discussed as being one of the reasons for the
LD>> lack of initiation in P w/ PD.

LD>> Also, long-term use of L-Dopa can lead to schizzophrenic type dementia.

LD>> My approach to EVERY person with AD or PD is individualized and
LD>> never based soley on the diagnosis....certainly establishing where the
LD>> person is in regards to mental status is the start, for this will let me
LD>> know if I should use cerebral or primitive mechanisms in my approach to
LD>> treating the movement deficit.

LD>> Seems like most of the people with AD that I have treated were in
LD>> LTC facilities and were at the later stages.  I would use very
LD>> common/familiar tasks (i.e. bicyle/dance/walk) for mobility training. 
LD>> The person with PD may not respond as well given the side effects of
LD>> meds and the freezing issues associated with movement in the later
LD>> stages.  However, in early stages, I can use cueing and strength
LD>> training to improve balance and gait.



LD>> David A. Lehman, PhD, PT
LD>> Associate Professor
LD>> Tennessee State University
LD>> Department of Physical Therapy
LD>> 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd.
LD>> Nashville, TN 37209
LD>> 615-963-5946
LD>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]



LD>> Hello:

LD>> What  differences  if  any do you all see in the way that Alzheimer's versus
LD>> Parkinson's diseases manifest themselves in your clients?

LD>> Are your treatment approaches different based solely on the disease?

LD>> Thanks,

LD>> Ron


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