Term
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Definition
-Dementia
-Delirium
-Amnesia
All types have impairment in cognition such as memory, language, planning, etc.
Cognitive Disorders used to be called "ORGANIC BRAIN DISORDERS" in the DSM- removed because it implies that other disorders don't have biological causes when they all do to some degree |
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Term
| Types of medical conditions that can cause cognitive disorders |
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Definition
virus (e.g. HIV)
stroke
tumor
brain injury
disease (e.g Alzheimer)
Intoxication (substance use or meds) |
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Term
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Definition
Dementia is the most common type of cognitive disorder
usually occurs in older age but can also onset in the 30-40s
Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia |
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Term
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Definition
All forms of dementia share MEMORY IMPAIRMENT (required for the diagnosis). Memory impairment is also the first cognitive impairment to appear
Alzheimer's- most common
Vascular dimentia- 2nd most common
Parkinsons
Huntingtons
HIV dementia
Picks Disease (similar to Alzheimer's)
Korsakoff's Syndrome (alcohol related dementia) |
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Term
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Definition
2nd most common form of dimentia
Caused by heart disease
Blood vessels in the brain are clogged and reduce blood flow to the brain- if they become too clogged the blood supply will be cut off the that brain region and a stroke will result
Strokes range from mini to major and associated sx vary accordingly |
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Term
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Definition
Memory impairments are mild. They seem like normal lapses of memory: misplaced items, forgotten names, repeated questions etc.
The person realizes it is happening so COMPENSATES e.g makes lists. Compensation can prolong diagnosis and keep family members from noticing it. |
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Term
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Definition
Mid stage dementia may bring with it anger and defensiveness- especially towards those closest to them
Person may blame family members for moving items, etc.
Depression can set it |
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Term
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Definition
Depression an set in mid stage dementia but be hard to distinguish from memory problems.
Depression can cause memory issues
acetocholyne and nurepinephrine are both important to memory
Depression is also distracting and has an internal, ruminative focus which can cause a drop in attention span to outside things. |
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Term
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Definition
Later stage dementia shows the loss of more established memories
e.g names of family members
important events
chronology of important events |
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Term
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Definition
tests to determine memory loss
Verbal memory tests &
Non verbal memory tests
*dementia testing is very stressful for the patients- the attitude towards the testing can help distinguish depressed from dementia |
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Term
Neuropsych tests
Verbal Memory |
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Definition
-recall a list of words
-immediate recall
-delayed recall |
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Term
Neuropsych tests
Non Verbal Memory |
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Definition
-Show pictures, abstract and unfamiliar
-Ask them to redraw the image shown
-immediately
-after a period of time |
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Term
Dementia
-other cognitive impairments-
(List) |
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Definition
-Aphasia
-Apraxia
-Agnosia
-Executive Function |
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Term
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Definition
| impaired language- trouble producing or understanding words e.g. naming "will you hand me that thing?" or trouble understanding meaning mini mental cog. |
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Term
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Definition
Failure to recognize objects or people. Increases in severity as dementia progresses, e.g. casual aquaintances get forgotten first, then family. Eventually lose the ability to recognize yourself. Trouble recognizing common objects (e.g. chair)
Agnosia (from Ancient Greek ἀγνωσία agnosia, "ignorance", "absence of knowledge") is a loss of ability to recognize objects, persons, sounds, shapes, or smells while the specific sense is not defective nor is there any significant memory loss.[1] It is usually associated with brain injury or neurological illness, particularly after damage to the occipitotemporal border, which is part of the ventral stream.[2] Agnosia only affects a single modality,[3] such as vision or hearing.[4] |
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Term
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Definition
We take our executive function for granted on a daily basis. Cognitive function involving abstract thinking, planning, execution
e.g. Phineus Gage
Test similarities:
e.g. what are the similarities between cats and dogs. Some answers are abstract, some concrete. e.g. both animals (abstract), both have tails (concrete)
Test trails: paper and pencil, draw line between a-1-b-2-c-3
cooking thanksgiving dinner is an exercise in executive function- some people with dementia might go off the rails trying to keep it all together |
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Term
| Personality Changes in Dementia (list) |
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Definition
-depression
-paranoia
-hostility
-violent outbursts |
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Term
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Definition
Most common form of dementia
1/2 of all dementias and the 6th most common cause of death
8-10 yr life expectancy
Progressive illlness |
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Term
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Definition
Alzheimer's is a uniquely human disorder- affecting the most recently evolved parts of the brain- robs people of their humanity
only conclusive test is brain autopsy
early stages: trouble with short term memory, trouble with year and month, trouble subtracting 3 from 20 all the way to 0
Diagnosis is terrifying but sx are gradual
depression rates skyrocket for caregivers- stress causes a depressed immune fx- decreased healing time (9 days longer)
Chronic stress of care giving affects mental and physical health
Most caregivers are women
feelings of confusion and shame and fear and helplessness
patients most frequently lash out at their primary caregiver |
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Term
Causes of Alzhiemers
List- |
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Definition
Lots of research and hopefully advances in the future
Causes: BIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN NEURONS
1)NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES
2)BETA-AMYLOID PLAQUES
3)EXTENSIVE CELL DEATH in the Cortex and Hypocampus |
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Term
Causes of Alzheimer's
Biological Changes in Neurons
-NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES- |
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Definition
Neurofibrillary Tangles-
fillaments in nerve cells are supposed to have RR track nerve fibers- should be straight but in Alzheimer's they get twisted and tangled.
Tangling happens mainly in the cerebro-cortex (cog. fx) and hypocampus (memory center) |
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Term
Causes of Alzheimer's
Biological Changes in Neurons
-Beta Amyloid Plaques- |
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Definition
Beta Amyloid Plaques
Protein deposits like glue globs in the brain (mostly fore-brain, hypocampus, cerebro-cortex)clog up the neurons and hinder fx.
Immune system responds to plaque like a thorn or virus- launches an attack against the Beta Amyloids and creates an inflammatory response
Inflammation DOES remove the plaque but it also DESTROYS HEALTHY NEURONS and BRAIN MATTER in the surrounding areas
Immune system can't keep up with massive amounts of plaque and becomes over-run |
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Term
Causes of Alzheimer's
Biological Changes in Neurons
-Extensive Cell Death- |
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Definition
Extensive cell death in the cortex and hypocampus areas causes shrinking. By late stage Alzheimer's there can be 80% neuron death in the area
Cholingergic Cells which produce acetoycholine are the most affected.
There are new drugs designed to maintain acetocholyine levels in the brain
e.g. Aircept- a prescription that slows the breakdown of acytocholine by inhibiting an enzyme involved in the breakdown |
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Term
| Alzheimer's Immunotherapy Trials |
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Definition
| Alzheimer's Immunotherapy RX clinical trials give people antibodies against their own plaque- more immune help to destroy it early on so it won't become a chronic issues that destroys surrounding areas. Rat studies are promising. |
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Term
| Video Clip- Biology of Alzheimer's |
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Definition
Where do plaques and tangles come from?
Neurons need to be fed by the the RR tracks. Tao proteins are in the center holding the tracks straight. When the Tao proteins are destroyed, the tracks tangle and strangulation ensues
Protein Pin I binds to Tao
Stop Pin I and stop the Tao from tangling?
Protein molocules drift among neurons
Beta Amaloid proteins drift and sticks to neurons
Brain responds with immune response and inflamation both attack the plaque and surrounding neurons.
The damage spreads and the neuron dies
Theory- lower the amount of Beta Amyloid plaque in the brain and you may lower the rate of Alzheimer's - could also have side effects |
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Term
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Definition
Apraxia (from Greek praxis, an act, work, or deed[1]) is the inability to execute learned purposeful movements,[2] despite having the desire and the physical capacity to perform the movements. Apraxia is an acquired disorder of motor planning, but is not caused by incoordination, sensory loss, or failure to comprehend simple commands (which can be tested by asking the person to recognize the correct movement from a series)
test e.g. -point to the ceiling then point to the door -write out the alphabet -say the alphabet -tell me how you would brush your teeth |
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