In this NEURO101 episode, Dr. G breaks down Huntington Disease, a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder marked by chorea, psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive decline. Learn the genetic basis—an autosomal dominant CAG trinucleotide repeat on chromosome 4—and why symptoms often present between ages 30–50. We’ll also cover the progressive nature of the disease, the role of genetic counseling, and key diagnostic and management considerations.

💡 Did you know? The more CAG repeats a person inherits, the earlier symptoms of Huntington disease tend to appear—a phenomenon called anticipation.

#HuntingtonDisease #Neurogenetics #MovementDisorders #NEURO101 #ProPAPodcast #PANCEPrep

In this NEURO101 episode, Dr. G explores Parkinson Disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. Learn the pathophysiology behind dopamine depletion in the substantia nigra, and how hallmark clinical findings help distinguish Parkinson disease from other movement disorders. We’ll also discuss treatment options—from levodopa/carbidopa as first-line therapy to adjunctive agents like MAO-B inhibitors and dopamine agonists.

💡 Did you know? The classic pill-rolling tremor of Parkinson’s often begins unilaterally and may precede a formal diagnosis by years.

#ParkinsonsDisease #MovementDisorders #Neurology #PANCEPrep #NEURO101 #ProPAPodcast

In this NEURO101 episode, Dr. G covers Essential Tremor, the most common movement disorder, often mistaken for Parkinson disease but with key differences. Learn how this action tremor (worsens with movement, improves with alcohol) typically affects the hands, head, and voice, and how to differentiate it from resting tremors. We also review first-line treatments, including propranolol and primidone, and when to consider surgical options like deep brain stimulation.

💡 Did you know? Essential tremor is often familial and can start at any age, but its prevalence increases with age—affecting nearly 1 in 20 adults over 40.

#EssentialTremor #MovementDisorders #PANCEPrep #NeurologyReview #ProPAPodcast #NEURO101

In this NEURO101 episode, Dr. G walks you through Wernicke Encephalopathy, a life-threatening but reversible neurologic condition caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, most often seen in chronic alcohol use disorder or malnutrition. We break down the classic triad: ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and confusion—though all three are rarely seen together. Early recognition is crucial, and we discuss why thiamine must be given before glucose to avoid worsening the condition.

💡 Did you know? Wernicke Encephalopathy is a medical emergency—and if untreated, can progress to Korsakoff syndrome, marked by irreversible memory loss and confabulation.

#WernickeEncephalopathy #ThiamineDeficiency #PANCEPrep #NeuroEmergencies #ClinicalMedicine #NEURO101 #ProPAPodcast

In this episode of NEURO101, Dr. G unpacks Toxic-Metabolic Encephalopathy (TME)—a diffuse brain dysfunction triggered by systemic illness, organ failure, or exposure to toxins. Learn to identify the hallmark signs like fluctuating mental status, asterixis, and EEG changes, and distinguish TME from structural brain lesions. We’ll also cover common culprits like sepsis, renal or hepatic failure, electrolyte imbalances, and medication effects.

💡 Did you know? TME is one of the most common causes of altered mental status in hospitalized patients—and it's reversible with the right treatment of the underlying cause!

#TME #AlteredMentalStatus #ToxicMetabolic #DeliriumVsDementia #PANCEReview #NEURO101 #ProPAPodcast

In this NEURO101 episode, Dr. G breaks down Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy, a critical condition that results from insufficient oxygen and blood flow to the brain. Whether from cardiac arrest, perinatal events, or severe hypotension, HIE can lead to devastating neurologic injury. Learn to recognize its stages, understand prognostic factors, and review key interventions such as therapeutic hypothermia.

💡 Did you know? In newborns, HIE is one of the leading causes of cerebral palsy and long-term neurodevelopmental delay—early identification and cooling within 6 hours can make all the difference!

#HIE #NeuroEmergency #CerebralPalsy #Hypoxia #PANCEPrep #NEURO101 #ProPAPodcast

In this NEURO101 episode, Dr. G explores Hepatic Encephalopathy, a reversible neuropsychiatric complication of liver dysfunction. Understand how elevated ammonia levels, often due to cirrhosis, can lead to confusion, asterixis, and even coma—and how prompt recognition and treatment can dramatically alter outcomes.

💡 Did you know? The classic flapping tremor known as asterixis isn't unique to hepatic encephalopathy—it can also be seen in uremia and CO₂ retention!

#HepaticEncephalopathy #LiverDisease #Asterixis #AmmoniaToxicity #NEURO101 #PANCEPrep #ProPAPodcast

In this unique NEURO101 brief, Dr. G takes a quick dive into Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)—commonly known as “mad cow disease.” Learn how this prion disease in cattle is linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) in humans and understand the public health implications of this neurodegenerative condition.

💡 Did you know? The first human cases of vCJD were reported in the UK in the 1990s and were linked to consumption of contaminated beef products. The disease causes spongiform changes in the brain and is uniformly fatal.

#BSE #vCJD #MadCowDisease #PrionDiseases #PublicHealth #NEURO101 #PANCEPrep #ProPAPodcast

In this NEURO101 installment, Dr. G walks you through Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)—a rare, rapidly progressive, and fatal prion disease that causes profound neurodegeneration. Learn the classic signs like myoclonus, akinetic mutism, and EEG changes, and understand how to differentiate sporadic, familial, and variant forms.

💡 Did you know? CJD is not caused by bacteria or viruses, but by abnormal prion proteins that induce a chain reaction of misfolding in the brain, creating a "spongiform" appearance on histology.

#CJD #PrionDisease #RapidDementia #Myoclonus #Neurodegeneration #NEURO101 #PANCEPrep #ProPAPodcast

In this NEURO101 episode, Dr. G takes us through the essentials of subdural hematoma, a slower but equally serious bleed typically caused by tearing of bridging veins—often seen in elderly patients or those with brain atrophy. Understand how this condition differs from epidural bleeds, what to look for on CT imaging, and when to worry about chronic versus acute presentations.

💡 Did you know? Because brain atrophy stretches bridging veins, elderly patients—even after minor head trauma—are at higher risk for subdural hematomas that may take days to become symptomatic.

#SubduralHematoma #BridgingVeins #HeadInjury #CTScan #NeuroEmergencies #NEURO101 #PANCEPrep #ProPAPodcast