Week 9 H12,17,18,24 Flashcards
How does alcohol consumption affect thinking and analyzing tasks?
Alcohol consumption makes thinking and analyzing tasks more effortful due to the inhibition of activity in the frontal lobe.
What is the main neurotransmitter that alcohol mimics in the brain?
Alcohol mimics the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain.
What severe risks are associated with excessive alcohol consumption?
Excessive alcohol consumption can result in the suppression of breathing and coma due to its inhibitory effects on the brainstem and pons.
What is a significant brain change caused by chronic alcohol abuse?
The main effect of chronic alcohol abuse is the loss of the frontal cortex, leading to both gray and white matter loss.
What is the fate of the volume loss observed in the brain of individuals with alcohol use disorders?
The volume loss is likely due to demyelination, rather than cell death, and can be reversible upon abstaining from alcohol.
What factors determine the relationship between alcohol use and brain function?
Factors include the amount of alcohol consumed, the frequency of drinking, the age at which alcohol use started, and the duration of use.
What does the ‘continuity hypothesis’ suggest about alcohol consumption and cognitive consequences?
The ‘continuity hypothesis’ suggests a direct relationship between the severity and extent of alcohol consumption and the severity of cognitive consequences and brain changes.
Is there strong evidence supporting the ‘continuity hypothesis’?
There is little convincing evidence supporting the ‘continuity hypothesis’.
What can excessive alcohol use lead to in terms of liver health?
Excessive alcohol use can lead to liver**cirrhosis **(scarring), hepatitis(inflamation of the liver), and ultimately liver failure.
What are the cognitive consequences of liver function disorders called?
They are referred to as hepatic encephalopathy.
The symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy can range from mild to severe and may include:
Changes in personality or behavior
Cognitive impairment
Confusion
Disorientation
Difficulty with motor skills and coordination
Tremors
Asterixis (a characteristic flapping tremor of the hands)
Drowsiness
Coma
How does malnutrition impact individuals with chronic alcohol use disorder?
Excessive alcohol use reduces hunger and can lead to vitamin B1 shortage, which can cause Wernicke’s encephalopathy. Malnutrition in general may impair cognitive functioning.
Name some features of Wernicke’s encephalopathy.
Features include confusion/delirium, motor problems, and ophthalmoplegia. It is often associated with respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and meningitis.
Can the condition of Wernicke’s encephalopathy be reversed?
Yes, in the acute phase, it is reversible when high-dose vitamin B1 injections are administered.
What is Korsakoff’s syndrome?
It is a neuropsychiatric disorder that may develop after a delayed or inadequately treated Wernicke’s encephalopathy, marked by cognitive impairments especially in episodic memory.
Can Korsakoff’s syndrome occur without alcohol misuse?
Yes, it can be due to thiamine deficiency arising from severe pregnancy vomiting, after bariatric surgery, or in cancer patients.
What memory challenge do individuals with Korsakoff’s syndrome face?
Difficulty in encoding and storing new information but can recall some information after repeated presentation.
What area of cognition remains relatively unaffected in Korsakoff’s syndrome?
Crystallized verbal intelligence is typically spared.
Which aspects of social cognition are affected in Korsakoff’s syndrome?
Both perspective-taking tasks and emotion recognition can be impaired.