Nervous system & Neurotransmitters - Kalee was looking forward

A Case Study on Nervous system & Neurotransmitters

Kalee was looking forward to her years as a grandmother. Taking care of her grandsons and working in her garden sounded wonderful. As she neared her 58 th birthday, however, Kalee noticed that her hands were shaking when she was working with her plants. She also noted that she was slower than she used to be, and often her body felt stiff. Kalee passes these off as symptoms of increasing age until she began to have difficulty maintaining her balance. Concerned, she visited her doctor. After a series of inconclusive tests, including blood work and physical exams, her doctor suggested that she see a neurologist.

The neurologist noted that Kalee’s speech was muffled, and she shuffled as she walked. Approximately 1 million people in the United States suffer from similar symptoms, leading him to believe that Kalee’s brain is not producing enough dopamine.

He prescribed a dopamine agonist to help increase her levels of dopamine.

Case Study Rubric (10%)

Instructions: To help you organize your ideas, please use the steps below.

Length: Maximum of two pages (Arial, font 12, double space)

Scoring standard: You must achieve a total rating of at least 6/12 (50% to demonstrate competence.)

Session Date

Identification of Problem(s)

? On the basis of case study, what are the main symptoms of the disorder?

? Which type of autonomous nervous system is affected in this case study?

Outline the cause(s) of problem(s)

? What type of neurotransmitter was involved in this disorder?

? What are the main characteristics of this neurotransmitter?

? Based on the case study, What is its effect on nervous system?

? How does the change in the level of this neurotransmitter in the body affect the nervous system?

Recommendation of appropriate solution(s)

? What could be the possible remedy to treat this disorder?

? What kind of substances (foods, drinks or drugs) should be used by the patients to treat this disorder