2021 Brain Food
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Thread Topic: 2021 Brain Food
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January Theme- Diseases
January 1st: Kuru
What is Kuru?
Kuru is a disease of the nervous system
What causes Kuru?
Kuru is caused by Prion(infectious protein), which is found in the contaminated brain tissue of humans. It is extremely rare, and unless you're eating people, you don't have to worry about it.
History
Kuru was mostly found in people from New Guinea. As part of a funeral ritual, they would eat the brains of the dead. This is no longer the case, as the practice stopped in 1960. However, cases still pop up.
Symptoms
* Swallowing difficulty
* Difficulty Walking
* Arm and Leg Pain
* Tremors(involuntary movements)and muscle jerks
* Coordination Problems that become severe
* Headaches
Interesting Facts
* The average incubation period (period between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms) of Kuru is 10-13 years, but some cases have shown an incubation period of 50 years or longer!
* There is no treatment
* Death tends to happen about 1 year after symptoms show
Source I totally ripped off:
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This is very important for people to know..thank you
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^ definitely. I'm so glad I know now, I'll have to be careful the next time I eat a human brain
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Very funny...
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i already knew this
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I have to tell my pet car about this, Marie sometimes swallows humans and their brains
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*jaw drops*
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January Theme- Diseases
January 2nd: Moebius Syndrome
What is Moebius Syndrome?
Moebius Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder. It affects the muscles that control your eye movement and facial expressions.
What causes Moebius Syndrome?
It is not known what causes Moebius Syndrome exactly, but genetic and environmental factors. Many of the signs and symptoms appear to result from undeveloped, or sometimes absence of cranial nerves VI and VII. These nerves emerge at the back of the brain(brainstem). They control, as you may guess, facial expressions and back-and-forth eye movement. This is not the only thing we have discovered about it. Another thing this disorder seems to be associated with, is changes in specific regions of chromosomes 10, 3, and 13 in some cases.
History
There is no source, however in a very tiny percentage of families, this can be genetic. Most of the time, it is sporadic. You are born with it, as the signs and symptoms are present
Symptoms
* Most people born with Moebius Syndrome have a small chin
* These people also tend to have a small mouth, with a short or misshapen tongue. They may have a cleft palate, or the roof of the mouth may be high and arched. Missing and/or misaligned teeth.
*Trouble with Speech
* Weak Muscle Tone (hypotonia)
*Hearing Loss
* Delayed Development of Motor Skills
Note that not all cases have all of these symptoms.
Interesting Facts
* Researchers estimate that the condition affects 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 500,000 newborns
* Their eyelids may not close completely when blinking or sleeping, which can result in dry or irritated eyes
* Bone abnormalities in the hands and feet can happen
A Picture of A Young Boy with Moebius Syndrome:
Source I Totally Ripped Off:
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that's pretty interesting.
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January Theme- Diseases
January 3rd:Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (Commonly known as Progeria)
What is Progeria?
Progeria is a genetic condition. Ot is characterized by a rapid and dramatic appearance of aging in childhood.
What causes Progeria?
The cause of Progeria is mutations in the LMNA gene. The LMNA gene is what provides instructions for making a protein called lamin A. Think of the LMNA gene as a manual that comes with a car, the car in this case, being lamin A.
But what is lamin A?
Lamin A is a protein that plays an important role in determining the shape of the nucleus within cells. It is an essential supporting component of the nuclear envelope. The nuclear envelope is the membrane that surrounds the nucleus. Here's a diagram of the nucleus.
Why does this matter?
The mutations that cause Progeria, result in the making of an abnormal version of lamin A. This altered version makes the nuclear envelope unstable, which progressively hurts the nucleus itself, making cells more likely to die prematurely.
Researchers are still trying to figure out how these changes relate to the characteristic features of Progeria.
History
There does not need to be any family history, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. It is extremely rare, and the chances of giving birth to a baby with Progeria are slim.
Symptoms
*Prominent eyes
*Thin nose with a beaked tip
*Thin lips
* Small chin
* Protruding(sticking out) ears
* Hair loss
* Aged-looking skin
* Joint abnormalities
* Loss of fat under the skin
Interesting Facts
* This does not affect motor or intellectual development
* It is reported to occur in 1 in 4 million newborns worldwide
* The condition was first described in 1886
* People with Progeria experience severe hardening of the arteries
* Unfortunately, most children with Progeria do not live a long life
A TED Talk Sam Berns made about life, who had Progeria:
Source I Totally Ripped Off Of:
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January Theme- Diseases
January 4th; Alice In Wonderland Syndrome (AWS)
What is AWS?
Alice In Wonderland Syndrome is a rare condition that causes temporary episodes of disorientation and a distorted perception(feelings that you/objects are smaller/larger than what they are, things seem closer/farther away than they actually are). It can affect multiple senses, such as touch, vision, and hearing.
What causes AWS?
It is not known for definite what causes this. What we do know, is that it isn't a problem with your eyes, a neurological or mental illness, and it isn't a hallucination. Which, given what it does, it may seem like.
What one believed cause is unusual electrical activity in the brain. This would cause abnormal blood flow to the parts of the brain that processes your environment and experience of visual perception. The cause of the unusual electrical activity could vary.
History
In adults, migraines seem to be the leading cause. However, in children, infection is a primary cause.
Symptoms
*Migraine
*Size Distortion
*Perceptual Distortion
* Time Distortion
* Sound Distortion
* Loss of limb control
* Loss of coordination
Interesting Facts
* Episodes of AWS typically last for a few seconds or minutes, but some have can last up to half an hour
* Each episode is different for every person
* This was first identified by Dr. John Todd in the 1950s
Source I Totally Ripped Off Of:
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January Theme- Diseases
January 5th; Alkaptonuria (AKU)
What is AKU?
AKU is an inherited condition that causes urine to turn black when exposed to air. Another characteristic is a buildup of dark pigment in connective tissues(cartilage and skin). However, this dark pigment usually appears after the age of 30.
What causes AKU?
Mutations in the HGD gene cause AKU. The HGD gene provides introductions for making an enzyme called homogentisate oxidase. This enzyme helps break down the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine. These amino acids are important blocks of building proteins. Mutations in the HGD gene impair the enzyme's role in the process.
Why is that important?
Due to the impairment, a substance called homogentisic acid. Homogentisic acid is produced as the phenylalanine and tyrosine are broken down. This creates a build up of Homogentisic acid. This Homogentisic acid is deposited in connective tissues, which causes skin to darken. Homogentisic acid is also excreted in urine, making the urine turn dark when exposed to air.
History
This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. The parents of a person with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene. They typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.
Symptoms
* Urine turns black when exposed to air
* Dark pigment in skin/cartilage
Interesting Facts
* Most people with AKU develop arthritis
* They also have an increased risk of heart problems, kidney stones, and prostate stones
* Alkaptonuria is more common in certain areas of Slovakia and in the Dominican Republic
Source I Totally Ripped Off:
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January Theme- Diseases
January 6th; Methemoglobinemia (MetHb)
What is MetHb?
MetHb is a blood disorder where an abnormal amount of methemoglobin is produced. Methemoglobin is a form of hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries and distributes oxygen to the body.
With MetHb, the hemoglobin can carry the oxygen, but is not able to effectively release it in body tissues.
What causes MetHb?
There are different types of MetHb. The first is inherited MetHb. The second type of MetHb is acquired MetHb.
Inherited MetHb:
There are two types of inherited MetHb. Type 1, and Type 2. In type one, MetHb is passed on by both parents. While the parents usually don't have the condition themselves, they carry the gene that causes the condition. This type also occurs when there is a problem with an enzyme called cytochrome b5 reductase.
Type two, which is called hemoglobin M disease, is caused by defects in the hemoglobin protein itself. Unlike type one, type two only needs one parent to pass on the abnormal gene.
Acquired MetHb:
This form of MetHb is more common than the inherited forms. It occurs in some people after they are exposed to certain chemicals and medicines. This includes anesthetics such as benzocaine, nitrobenzene, certain antibiotics(not all), and nitrites used as additives to prevent meat from spoiling.
History
As stated, it can either be inherited or acquired, but acquired is more common.
Symptoms
Type 1 MetHb:
* Bluish coloring of the skin
Type 2 MetHb:
*seizures
*failure to thrive(weight issues)
* developmental delay
*intellectual disability
Acquired MetHb;
*bluish coloring of the skin
*fatigue
* headache
* altered mental state
* giddiness
* lack of energy
* shortness of breath
Interesting Facts
* Type 2 MetHb often causes death within the first few years of life
* The other types usually aren't too serious
* In most cases of mild acquired MetHb, no treatment is needed
Source I Totally Ripped Off:
Side Note; with the different types I may have confused certain things, so I'm sorry if I accidentally spread misinformation
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