Neurological Disease

Week 1 The field of neuroscience that interests me most is a research position at a hospital or university. I believe that being attached to a research facility within the medical community has the potential for high demand in the future, as a growing segment of the population ages and develops Alzheimer’s and dementia. Neurological disorders have a devastating effect on the person affected, and those around them.

I see neurological diseases of the aging process as particularly devastating because the person slowly loses their life and their special connection with those who love them. I am interested in two areas in particular. I am interested in Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and disorders of memory that occur at any age. To be successful in this career path, it will be essential to focus on the research methodology and procedures for both human and animal studies.

Any projects available that pertain to the specific area study will be essential in gaining a position at a research facility. Most of these programs require specialization in the research topic. There are also typically part of a team. Ph.D. research into Alzheimer’s and dementia related issues can be found almost anywhere in the country. It is one of the most prominent areas of research currently, and a quick search reveals a numerous supply of beginning level and advanced positions.

Week 2 – Video Presentation Narrative The article chosen from the provided list for this review is: Henry, J. D., von Hippel, W., Thompson, C., Pulford, P., Sachdev, P., & Brodaty, H. (2012). Social behavior in mild cognitive impairment and early dementia. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 34(8), 806-813. Brief Overview Social behavioral abnormalities are common in the later stages of dementia, but behavioral changes in the early stage of dementia, or those with only a mild cognitive impairment have not received considerable attention in the way of academic research.

Henry and associates (2012) used the experience of informants to identify either socially inappropriate or prejudicial behavior in persons with early-stage dementia. One example of this is when people with dementia interrupt someone because they have difficulty holding what they wish to say in their memory until the other person is finished. The research aimed to examine if there was any relationship between memory and social impairment. An Analysis of the Research Methodology The study involved 107 community-dwelling participants and Sydney, Australia.

Of them, 26 met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-IV) criteria for dementia and 37 met the criteria for mental cognitive impairment. The other 44 participants were without cognitive impairment and served as controls. All of the participants had adequate eyesight, hearing, and English language ability. In addition, all of them had an informant with whom he had at least weekly contact. Exclusionary Criteria included those with a previous diagnosis of psychiatric or neurological illness.

The participants were asked to nominate an informant who they felt doom them well and this person within provide a proxy measure of social functioning in the form of a survey. Once the surveys were complete, they were returned to the investigator in a stamped addressed envelope. Independent and Dependent Variables In this study the independent variable is the condition of either having dimension or another cognitive impairment or being free from such an impairment. The be dependent variable involves the persons reported social behavioral functioning.

Study Design The Minim Mental State Examination (MMSE), was used to determine the general cognitive status of the participants. This instrument has been used as a screening instrument that quantifies conditions across multiple cognitive domains that include memory, language, practice attention, and orientation. It has been shown to have good reliability and sensitivity in late adulthood (Henry, et al., 2012). The Logical Memory Immediate and Delayed Recall Story was used measure recall.

The Peer-Report Social Functioning Scale was used to measure the social appropriateness of behaviors, as reported by the chosen informants. Explanation of the Results One of the most important results is that the informants tended to rate the socially appropriate behaviors higher than the inappropriate, stereotypical, and prejudicial behaviors. Only social inappropriateness demonstrated a statistically significant effect. The results indicated that the dementia group rated as engaging as more and more inappropriate behavior than the mental cognitive impairment group or the control group.

This study found social inappropriate behaviors in persons with early-stage dementia, but not in the control or mental cognitive impairment group. Strengths and weaknesses of the study One of the strengths of the study is that it used instruments that have a proven ability to assess the chosen parameters. One of the key weaknesses is that it used a self-rated scale for assessment of social behavior. The results of the study respondents tended to potentially over-rate positive behaviors and potentially underrate inappropriate ones.

This may demonstrate bias on the part of the informants. In addition, the assessment criteria of the informants was subjective and they may have rated behaviors inconsistently. Suggestions for Improvement The first suggestion is to conduct the study with a larger sample size. The sample population used is too small to be representative of a general population of adults with cognitive decline. In addition, using a scale that provided the informant with more specific criteria for rating the patient would be more helping in achieving consistent results.

Week 3 – Gerstmann’s Syndrome Gerstmann’s syndrome is characterized by a number of symptoms including the inability to write, the inability of learn or comprehend math, the inability to distinguish the fingers of the hand, and left-right disorientation (Vallar, 2007). The syndrome is diagnosed through symptoms a through a corresponding MRI, which may show damage to the inferior parietal lobule. These symptoms are generally found in all age groups, but adults may also experience a difficulty in expressing oneself and speaking, understanding speech, or reading (Vallar, 2007).

The person may also experience impairment of the visual-spatial short-term memory and have difficulty drawing or building objects (Vallar, 2007). The syndrome is characterized by damage to the inferior parietal lobule of the dominant hemisphere of the brain. The exact location of the damage determines which deficits the person experiences. It can be caused by stroke, physical damage to the brain, or damage caused by an infection. A person with this syndrome has significant daily functional impairments.

It may be difficult to hold a job because one cannot express themselves orally, read, or potentially right. Deficits and using the fingers may result in impairment of basic living skills. These deficits may also affect recreational activities in the general enjoyment of life. Children with the syndrome tend to cope with the deficits and learn to adjust (Miller and Hynd, 2004). Symptoms tend to diminish over time and are treated symptomatically and through supportive strategies.

Week 5 The patient is a 16--year-old female with no previous history of any cyclic gastric conditions, learning difficulties, or diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Lately, she has been having difficulty in school and her parents noticed that her mood seems to be up and down. Teachers note that she performs well on tests, but frequently turns in her homework late. She is also in danger of losing her job as a part-time waitress on the weekends due to tardiness over the past six months.

The differential diagnosis may include the criteria for bipolar disorder, which may present as either a manic or depressive episode (Culpepper, 2014). Diagnostic protocols include a detailed history including the onset frequency, and severity of symptoms. It will also include a family and social history (Culpepper, 2014). However, because of her age and the potential for hormone disturbances, it would be recommended that as assessment be made for any physical or hormonal abnormalities that could account for her fluctuating moods.

The most common misdiagnoses include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, unipolar depression, and schizophrenia (Hirschefeld, 2014). This means that many cases are not diagnosed until later in life, with an average of 10 years between the first episode and correct diagnosis (Hirschefeld, 2014). This is because the patient may present with only one side of the condition at the time of diagnosis. It is important to make a correct diagnosis quickly because there is a high suicide rate among those with bipolar (Hirschefeld, 2014).

Week 6 – Discussion Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease that is believed to begin 20 years or more before symptom’s arise (Villemagne, et al, 2013). It begins with small changes in the brain that are typically not noticed by the individuals. For those that have certain genetic mutations, symptoms can be expected to begin around the same time as their parent with Alzheimer’s. Many times, the first symptom is impairment in glucose metabolism (Alzheimer’s Association, 2019). The symptoms begin slowly and build up over time.

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is accomplished though clinical assessment that includes cognitive tests and blood tests to determine if the biomarkers for Alzheimer’s are present (Alzheimer’s Association, 2019). It is important to note that not all persons with the biomarker go on to develop the later stages of the condition. A brain scan will typically demonstrate the presence of Lewis Bodies, but the presence of biomarkers is the most widely used clinical marker. Brain scans are seldom needed to confirm the diagnosis.

It is important to provide significant clinical evidence to differentiate Alzheimer’s from other forms of dementia and mental cognitive impairment (Alzheimer’s Association, 2019). Symptoms of Alzheimer’s includes memory loss, challenges in planning, challenges in problem solving, difficulty completing tasks at home or work, confusion as to.