2008 July

Neurologic diseases encountered in old age fall into three categories. First are those that occur nearly exclusively in the elderly–the degenerative and cerebrovascular disorders. Degenerative disorders encompass those in which the cause is unknown; some diseases (eg, familial Alzheimer’s disease) may be classified differently as more is learned about them. Second are disorders that occur [...]

Previously called adult-onset, maturity-onset, or ketosis-resistant diabetes, type II diabetes mellitus involves relative insulin deficiency and resistance to insulin action. The combination of normal or high insulin levels and hyperglycemia implies insulin resistance. Both increased insulin levels and decreased insulin action have been documented in the two groups at increased risk for type II diabetes–the [...]

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia and sometimes ketoacidosis; it results from a lack of or markedly diminished insulin secretion or from ineffective insulin action associated with moderately diminished insulin secretion. Secondary vascular changes include abnormalities in the small vessels (microangiopathy) and large vessels (macroangiopathy). Microangiopathy appears as diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. [...]