Biological Basis of Behavior-Cognitive Disorders Flashcards
What is considered to be the master endocrine gland?
Pituitary Gland
What does the hormone released by the pituitary gland do?
It stimulates all other endocrine hormones
Which brain structure regulates the pituitary gland?
Hypothalamus
What does the thyroid control?
Metabolism
What are some symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Weight loss, increased appetite, heat sensitivity, diarrhea, tremor, fatigue, insomnia, impaired memory
Grave’s Disease is a type of which thyroid disorder?
Hyperthyroidism
What mental health disorders does hyperthyroidism mimic?
Anxiety or mania
What are some symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Weight gain, sluggishness, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, problems with memory
What mental health disorder does hypothyroidism mimic?
Depression
What is Type I Diabetes?
Insulin-dependent diabetes, because the pancreas does not secrete insulin. It typically occurs before the age of 30
What is Type II Diabetes
When the body becomes resistant to insulin
Who is most at risk for Type II diabetes?
African Americans, Hispanics, and those who are obese
What are the 3 types of diabetes?
Type I
Type II
Gestational Diabetes
Hyperglycemia
Excess Blood Sugar
What are the 3 main symptoms of Hyperclycemia
Polyuria, polyphasia, polydipsia
Polyuria
Increased Urination
Polyphasia
Increased Appetite
Polydipsia
Increased Thirst
Hypoglycemia
Too little Blood Sugar
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia include?
Jittery, irritability, trembling, fatigue, rapid heart rate, confusion
Too little pituitary hormone results in?
Dwarfism
Too much pituitary hormone results in?
Gigantism
Too little cortico-steroids results in?
Addison’s Disease
Too much cortico-steroids results in?
Cushing’s Disease
What psychological symptoms can accompany Cushing’s Disease?
Depression and Irritability
What must be present to diagnose dementia
Impairment in memory PLUS one of the following:
Aphasia
Apraxia
Agnosia
Disturbance in Executive Functioning
Must interfere with work or social activities
Must be a decline from previous functioning
Must be due to a medical Process
Is dementia more common in men or women?
It’s equally common in men and women
What are some types of dementia?
Alzheimer’s
Vascular Dementia
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Mixed Dementia
What is the prevalence of Alzheimer’s?
1 out of 8 people have dementia, increasing with age. ~30% of individuals over the age of 90 have Alzheimer’s.
What are some early symptoms of Alzheimer’s?
Forgetting names and recent events
Misplacing items
Apathy/Depression
As Alzheimer’s progresses past the early stages, symptoms include:
Disorientation Confusion Problems with Judgment Impaired Behavior Gait and Motor Problems Eventually leading to needing help with ADL's
What are the symptoms of the final stages of Alzheimer’s?
Lose the ability to community
Don’t recognize loved ones
Bedridden
What is the neurological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (used to diagnose the disease)?
Presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibroid tangles
Neuronal damage as a result of Alzheimer’s affects which brain structures?
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Cortex
Which neurotransmitter is implicated in Alzheimer’s?
Acetylcholine (deficits)
New diagnostic criteria was developed for Alzheimer’s. This criteria explained 3 stages of the disease. What are those 3 stages?
Pre-Clinical Alzheimer’s
Mild Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer’s
Dementia due to Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is what type of dementia?
Cortical Dementia
What functions are most affected for those with Alzheimer’s?
Memory
Language
Praxis
How do you treat Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s does not have a treatment. You treat the symptoms you are able to and provide support to caregivers.
What is the 2nd most common form of dementia?
Vascular Dementia
What causes vascular dementia?
A series of numerous small strokes.
What location of the brain is impacted by Vascular Dementia?
Depends on the location of the strokes
What are some general symptoms of Vascular Dementia?
Impaired Judgment
Difficulty Making Plans
What is the course of Vascular Dementia?
Step-wise
Which dementia involves the proteins also found in those with Parkinson’s?
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
What are Lewy Bodies?
Abnormal clumps of a particular types of protein (also seen in those with Parkinson’s)
Which dementia looks similar to Alzheimer’s?
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
How is Dementia with Lewy Bodies different than Alzheimer’s?
Individuals with Dementia with Lewy Bodies also are likely to experience the following symptoms:
Visual Hallucinations
Sleep Problems
Muscle Rigidity
What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s?
Tremor
Rigidity
Bradykinesia (Difficulty Initiating Movement)
Shuffling Gait
What mental health symptoms often precede Parkinson’s?
Depression
What type of dementia is Parkinson’s?
Subcortical Dementia
What brain functions are most affected by Parkinson’s?
Processing Speed Executive Functioning (Planning, Organizing, Sequencing)
Brain abnormalities in Parkinson’s begin in which brain structure?
Substantia Nigra
How does Parkinson’s affect the brain?
It causes the degeneration of nerve cells that create dopamine
What causes Huntington’s Disease?
Autosomal Dominant Gene
When do people with Huntington’s often begin to develop symptoms?
Between the ages of 30 and 50
What are the early symptoms of Huntington’s?
Changes in personality and mood including irritability, apathy, and disinhibition
What are the symptoms of Huntington’s?
Choreiform Movements including brisk jerking movements of the waist and pelvis, facial grimaces, apoptosis (writhing movements)
How soon after the onset of Huntington’s do movement symptoms begin to display?
10 or more years typically
Which brain structures are affected by Huntington’s?
Caudate Nucleus and Putamen (in the Basal Ganglia)
Which neurotransmitters are implicated in Huntington’s?
Acetylcholine and GABA (results in too much dopamine in the system)
If a child has one parent with Huntington’s, what is the likelihood that they will develop Huntington’s?
50%
What is the most effective intervention for Huntington’s?
Genetic counseling
What are the symptoms of Frontal-Temporal Dementias?
Changes in Personality and Behavior Disinhibition Poor Impulse Control Change in Judgment Impaired Insight Difficulty with Language Explosive Temper
What are two types of Frontal-Temporal Dementias?
Pic’s Disease and Progressive Supernuclear Palsy
Which autoimmune disorder is known to lead to dementia?
HIV
What has typically been a common cause of death for individuals with AIDS?
Dementia
What are some symptoms of dementia caused by HIV?
Cognitive Symptoms (memory, attention, concentration, language) Motor Symptoms (Weakness, Coordination, Gait) Behavioral/Mood Changes (Apathy, Withdrawal, Mood Swings, Change in Personality)
What is the life expectancy for someone diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?
4-6 Months
What are some symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?
Problems with Coordination Significant Personality Changes Disorientation Memory Problems Problems with Thinking Judgment Problems
Mad Cow disease is also known to cause what?
Creutzfeldt-Jakob’s disease.
What are some symptoms of Hydrocephalus?
Urinary Incontinence
Gait Problems
Can lead to dementia
What is the treatment for Hydrocephalus?
Can sometimes be corrected through the use of a shunt to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid
What is post-traumatic amnesia?
Amnesia for right after the trauma or the trauma itself
What are symptoms of dementia due to head trauma?
Persistent Memory Problems Problems with Executive Functioning and Attention Depression Apathy Anxiety Irritability
What type of head injury is unlikely to lead to loss of consciousness?
Open head injury
Microscopic Widespread Brain Injuries are often a result of?
Concussion
What are the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome?
Fatigue
Headache
Dizziness
Irritability
Bleeding and bruising of the brain is called what?
Contusion
Which lobes are typically damaged in contusions?
Frontal and Temporal Lobes
What are Symptoms of Frontal Lobe Syndrome?
Lack of Foresight
Irresponsibility
Lack of Insight
What is the cause of Frontal Lobe Syndrome?
Brain Contusion
What is the cause of Temporal Lobe Syndrome?
Brain Contusion
Explain retrograde memory after head trauma
You usually regain memory of more remote events first. Eventually you regain memories leading up to the event. Typically you will never remember what happened immediately preceding the trauma or the trauma itself
What type of cognitive functioning returns more quickly when recovering from head trauma?
Recovery of general intellectual functioning occurs before recovery of memory
What is another name for Dementia of Depression?
Pseudodementia
Who is most likely to suffer from pseudodementia?
Elderly individuals
What are are some differences between pseudodementia and true dementia?
Patients with psuedodementia often self-refer for memory problems and are likely to regain cognitive functioning when their depression is treated
What is delirium?
An acute state of confusion
What are symptoms of delirium?
Problems of Consciousness Problems Focusing Problems Gaining or Shifting Attention Cognitive Problems with Memory, Language, and Orientation Perceptual Disturbances
What are the most common causes of delirium?
Drugs
Medication
Infection
How do you treat delirium?
Diagnose and Treat the Underlying Cause Reorienting Techniques Antipsychotics Benzodiazepines (if related to withdrawal) Well-Lit Environments
What are Amnestic Disorders
Problems with memory due to medical conditions or persisting effects of a substance
What causes Korsakoff’s Syndrome?
Chronic Thiamin/B1 deficiency as a result of long-term alcohol abuse
What are symptoms of Korsakoff’s Syndrome?
Anterograde Amnesia Some Retrograde Amnesia (with recent memories most impaired) Inability to create new Memories Confabulation Lack of Insight Difficulties with Spontaneous Conversation Apathy Problems with Executive Functioning Disorientation
