Higher Cerebral Function Flashcards
What are the six lobes of the cerebrum?
Frontal, Temporal, Parietal, Occipital, Insula, and Limbic lobes.
What is the primary function of the frontal lobe?
Planning and executing learned and purposeful behaviors, motor control, social behavior modulation, and speech production.
Which lobe is responsible for processing auditory and language information?
Temporal lobe.
What are the functions of the parietal lobe?
Somatosensory processing, spatial awareness, and proprioception.
What is the main function of the occipital lobe?
Processing visual information.
Which lobe integrates sensory and autonomic information from the viscera?
Insular lobe.
What is the function of the limbic lobe?
Memory, learning, and emotion regulation.
What is the role of the primary motor cortex?
It generates voluntary body movements.
What is the significance of Broca’s area?
Controls expressive language function, damage leads to expressive aphasia.
What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?
Language comprehension, damage causes receptive aphasia.
What is Gerstmann syndrome?
A condition caused by angular gyrus damage leading to deficits in writing, calculation, left-right orientation, and finger recognition.
What is the function of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex?
Working memory and cognitive flexibility.
What is the role of the orbital frontal cortex?
Modulation of social behaviors and emotional regulation.
Which lobe is most commonly affected in neglect syndrome?
Parietal lobe (non-dominant side).
What is Anton’s syndrome?
Cortical blindness with denial of visual deficits.
What is the role of the thalamus in sensory processing?
Relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex (except for olfactory stimuli).
What is the function of heteromodal association areas?
Integration of sensory, motor, and cognitive information for complex functions.
What are common causes of focal cerebral dysfunction?
Stroke, tumors, trauma, demyelination, and infections.
What is plasticity in the brain?
The brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt by forming new connections.
What is redundancy in brain function?
More than one brain area can perform the same function, allowing for compensation after injury.
What is dementia?
A neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by progressive cognitive decline affecting daily living.
What are the main cognitive domains affected in dementia?
Memory, language, executive function, visuospatial skills, and attention.
How is dementia different from delirium?
Dementia is chronic and progressive, while delirium is acute and reversible.
What are the main types of dementia?
Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and HIV-associated dementia.
What is the most common cause of dementia?
Alzheimer’s disease.
What are the key features of Alzheimer’s disease?
Memory loss, executive dysfunction, disorientation, and personality changes.
What is vascular dementia?
Dementia caused by cerebrovascular disease leading to cognitive impairment.
What is dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)?
A dementia characterized by fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations, and Parkinsonism.
What is frontotemporal dementia (FTD)?
A dementia characterized by personality changes, disinhibition, and loss of executive function.
What is mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?
A cognitive decline greater than expected for age but not severe enough to interfere with daily life.
What percentage of MCI patients progress to dementia within 3 years?
Up to 50%.
What are reversible causes of dementia?
Vitamin B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, normal pressure hydrocephalus, depression, and chronic infections.
What is rapidly progressive dementia (RPD)?
A dementia that progresses within 1-2 years, often due to prion disease, autoimmune encephalitis, or paraneoplastic syndromes.
What are prions?
Misfolded proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
What is the main risk factor for dementia?
Advancing age.
What genetic factors contribute to Alzheimer’s disease?
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 allele and mutations in APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 genes.
What is the role of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease?
Extracellular deposits of misfolded amyloid-beta protein contributing to neurodegeneration.
What is the role of tau protein in neurodegeneration?
Hyperphosphorylation of tau leads to neurofibrillary tangles, disrupting neuronal function.
What is the most commonly used screening tool for dementia?
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
What laboratory tests should be performed in suspected dementia?
Complete blood count, electrolytes, thyroid function, vitamin B12, and HIV testing.
What imaging modalities are useful in dementia diagnosis?
MRI, PET, and SPECT to assess brain atrophy and functional abnormalities.
What is the first-line pharmacologic treatment for Alzheimer’s disease?
Cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine).
What is the role of NMDA receptor antagonists in dementia?
Memantine is used to reduce excitotoxicity and slow progression.
What are non-pharmacologic interventions for dementia?
Cognitive stimulation, structured routines, physical exercise, and caregiver education.
What are behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)?
Agitation, depression, hallucinations, aggression, and wandering.
What is the prognosis of dementia?
Progressive decline with increased dependence on caregivers over time.
What factors increase the risk of developing dementia?
Hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, head trauma, and low education level.
What is sundowning in dementia?
Increased confusion and agitation in the late afternoon and evening.
What role does neuroinflammation play in dementia?
Chronic inflammation contributes to neurodegeneration and synaptic loss.
What is the most common cause of mixed dementia?
Alzheimer’s disease combined with vascular dementia.
What is the significance of hippocampal atrophy in dementia?
Early and prominent feature in Alzheimer’s disease, linked to memory impairment.
What is the typical life expectancy after a dementia diagnosis?
Varies by type; Alzheimer’s disease averages 8-10 years post-diagnosis.
How can dementia be prevented or delayed?
Healthy diet, physical activity, social engagement, mental stimulation, and vascular risk management.
