Neurocognitive Disorders Flashcards
What are neurocognitive disorders?
Disorders that are diagnosed on the basis of deficits in cognitive functioning that represent a marked change from the individual’s previous level of functioning
What are some of the cognitive impairments in the neurocognitive disorders?
Aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, anterograde and retrograde amnesia, deficits in executive functions
What is delirium?
A state of extreme mental confusion in which people have difficulties focusing their attention, speaking clearly and coherently and orienting themselves in the environment
What are some of the causes of neurocognitive disorders?
Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, vascular disorder, substance abuse, dementia with lewy bodies, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, parkinson’s disease, huntington’s disease and HIV infection
What are the methods used to assess neurocognitive disorders?
Behavioral observation, brain scans (PET, fMRI), EEG analyses, neuropsychological testing (WAIS-IV, adult memory and information processing battery, Halstead-Retain neuropsychological test battery), information from patients and families, DANCERS method (for mild only)
Available treatments for neurocognitive disorders
Drug treatment, deep brain stimulation, holistic rehabilitation, compensatory skills training, restorative treatment
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
Begins with mild memory problems, lapses of attention and difficulties in language and communication. Later individuals need assistance in managing everyday tasks. In advanced stage difficulties with simple tasks, distant memories are forgotten, and changes in personality usually become very noticeable. The end stage is marked as inability to walk, speak, control one’s bladder, eat, followed by seizures, coma and death.
Treatments for Alzheimer’s disease
Cholinesterase inhibitor (slowing cognitive decline and boosting cognitive functioning), engaging in stimulating cognitive activities (boost cognitive performance), lifestyle factors such as amount of exercise and type of diet
What is the difference between minor and major neurocognitive disorders?
The key distinction between major and mild neurocognitive disorder is that individuals with major neurocognitive disorder experience a substantial decline in function that includes a loss of independence as a result of profound cognitive impairment, whereas individuals with mild neurocognitive disorder experience only a modest cognitive decline and, as a result, function relatively independently.
