Neuropsychology -- Aging

Front 1

Two main cognitive theories of aging? what is dedifferentiation?

Back 1

(1) General decline -- General reduction in mental resources. Speed of processing is slower.

*Dediffer -- Perhaps our cells go back to their original, less specialized functions when we age, thus the slower processing.

(2) Specific and unique effects - Aging has specific effects, such as motor reduction.. but intelligence is often preserved, as well as language. Inhibitory processes might be worse. General idea is that it's the motor deficits that are inhibiting the person, not necessarily their brain.

Front 2

What did the brain scan slides show on the 4 different memory-related tasks for older vs. younger people?

Back 2

That more of the brain was being activated to do the same tasks. Thus, their processing is slower because they're using more of the their brain to do the same task a younger person could do with less of their brain.

Front 3

What is dementia, and specifically, it's two different kinds? (give other names, base rates, etc., if applicable)

Back 3

Decline in cognitive function beyond normal aging effects.
(1) Vascular Dementia -- 2nd most common. 17.6% of all dementias. It is a syndrome.

(2) Frontal-temporal lobe (FTD) -- Also known as Pick's disease. Language disorder is a common sign. Gross atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes.

Front 4

Vascular Dementia -- diagnosis, risk factors (4), and pathology.

Back 4

Diagnosis - Single or multiple infarcts. Microvascular insult (smaller blood vessels).
Also, confusion, agitation, language problems, memory problems, unsteady gait, mood and personality changes.

Risk - Age, hypertension (Type A), Diabetes - neuropathy, and stroke.

Pathology -- Additive with AD. Both lead to severe dementia.

Front 5

FTD (or Pick's Disease)? Description (age range), behavioral symptoms, emotional symptoms, language issues, and neurology?

Back 5

Description - Slow progression. Age range from 20-80 years (though 50s is the most common), Focal atrophy of the frontal and/or temporal lobes.

BS -- Gross decline in social functions. Low levels of awareness (tactless, offensive), Hyper-oral, Repetitive, poor hygiene, Impulsive, Hyperactive/Hypersexual, cognitively -- poor attention, EF, abstraction, and planning.

Emotional -- Lack of insight, apathy, blunting of affect, or mood changes.

Language -- Aphasia, dysarthia, echolalia, problems in comprehension, etc.

Neurology -- Right hemisphere atrophy, specifically in the frontal and temporal lobes.

Front 6

What do the graphs on dementia show?

Back 6

That dementia is most common in the upper echelon of age (80-90), and that an overwhelming amount of people with dementia, also have AD.

Front 7

Alzheimer's? Major symptoms?

Back 7

Memory loss -- Forgetting recently learned information.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks.
Language problems -- word finding.
Disorientation of time and space (and place)
Problems in abstract thinking
Poor judgment.
Mood and personality changes (fearful, suspicious).
Loss of initiative.

Front 8

Etiology of AD? Percentage associated with the particular gene?

Back 8

Gene that encodes for proteins for the scaffolding or cytoskeleton. APOE 4 genes.
Associated with neurofibrilliary tangles (helically wound protein filaments),
and senile plaques (accumulate in extracellular space of HC and cortex).
There are aggregates of beta-amyloid protein.

If you have the APOE 4 gene, your chances of getting AD go up by about 50%.

Front 9

Treatment of AD? ( two drugs and behavioral)

Back 9

No known cure.
(1) Drug therapies -- (a)Cholinesterase inhibitors. Increase Ach... moderate increases in cognitive ability (~50%). (b) Memantine -- regulates glutamate.

(2) Behavioral -- try and treat the person, not the disease (since it can't be treated). Try and monitor their pain, the side effects of the drug, hearing and visual problems, emotional distress (fear, fatigue, etc.), hallucinations and delusions.