Neurocognitive Disorders PDF

Neurocognitive Disorders Cognitive vs. Emotional Disorders  Cognitive Disorders  Focus on brain functions ▪ Memory, processing speed, ability solve problems, etc.  May result in mood changes but not as a direct effect ▪ Ex) Alzheimer's very distressing  Emotional D...

Neurocognitive Disorders Cognitive vs. Emotional Disorders  Cognitive Disorders  Focus on brain functions ▪ Memory, processing speed, ability solve problems, etc.  May result in mood changes but not as a direct effect ▪ Ex) Alzheimer's very distressing  Emotional Disorders  Most all other disorders ▪ Disorders that effect feelings and emotional well-being ▪ Ex) Anxiety, Depression ▪ Can affect cognitive functioning, but primarily an emotional problem ▪ Ex) Depression can impair memory, but the mood change is prior to the cognitive change Neurocognitive Disorders  Delirium  Acute loss of attention, brain functioning, concentration, confusion  Only last a short period of time (hours or days)  Not much so a disorder itself, but a condition that results for a lack of short term brain care  Ex) Sun stroke, painting fumes, stroke, lack of sleep, high fever, sleep deprivation  Ex) Biking in Minnesota  Can often be misdiagnosed  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCFEFG8D43M  Treatment  Fix what’s causing the delirium Neurocognitive Disorders  Neurocognitive Disorder  Two categories- Mild and Major ▪ Minor- can function with some accommodations ▪ Major- substantial impairment, can’t function  Deficits in cognitive functioning: learning, memory, attention, motor skills, decision making, language, processing speed  Ex) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) ▪ High in returning veteran’s: blast wounds Alzheimer’s Disease  Alzheimer’s Disease- majority of dementia cases in elderly  6.5 million individuals and increasing (US)  Early onset before 65; late onset after 65- more typical  Higher rates in women Alzheimer’s Disease  Slow loss of brain functioning, gradually sets in ▪ Fast lost is probably delirium  Symptoms ▪ Memory deficits ▪ Problems in planning and organization ▪ Aphasia- difficulty with language ▪ Apraxia- impaired motor functioning ▪ Agnosia- recognize objects  Eventually will have loss/changes in personality and/or total functioning  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BGtVJ3l BdE Neurocognitive Disorders  Alzheimer’s Disease  Can usually only tell for sure after death  Plaques and neurofibrillary tangles- not sure why  Excessive activity of some proteins  Genetic links (ApoE-4 gene) Neurocognitive Disorders  Alzheimer’s disease  Individual’s will compensate ▪ Educational achievement preventive factor  London taxi driver’s larger hippocampus  Nun’s study- use of brain prevents deterioration  Brain like a muscle- use it or lose it  Deficits in Acetylcholine, glutamine ▪ Help build memory linked proteins  Donepezil (Aricept) ▪ Increases Acetylcholine levels  Still much to be known Frontotemporal Dementia  Category of Disorders  Degeneration of frontal and temporal lobe  Frontotemporal dementia  Language loss  Loss of empathy Other Dementias  Vascular dementia  Small mini-strokes  Lewy Body dementia  Effects dopamine transmission ▪ Hallucinations ▪ Motor problems  Prion’s disease  AKA Mad cow’s disease  Rapid loss of functioning Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)  Traumatic Brain Injury  Also called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)  Multiple concussions  Blast wave injury Disorders of Cognition and Aging  Really two categories  Cognitive Disorders  Disorders associated with being elderly  Increasingly elderly population  Likely to see a rise in these disorders and a need for caregivers Difficulties in Old Age  Whatare some psychological concerns that may arise in old age? Emotional Problems in Old Age  Lack of meaning  Feel unnecessary  Loss of life roles  Loss of functioning  Sleep problems  Physical and psychological illness highly correlated  Loss of friends and loved ones  Erickson’s: Integrity vs. despair Emotional Problems in Old Age  Depression  Learned Helplessness  Give up  Substance abuse decreases  Schizophrenia decreases Stay Healthy  Keep brain active  Physical Exercise  Maintain relationships  Practice gratitude  Get outside Improving Memory  http://abc7news.com/health/non-dru g-treatment-may-reverse-alzheimers /336963/