Memory Disorders
Any illness, even the flu, will have the ability to impair one's memory. When the immune system is fighting illness, or when someone is experiencing pain, it is more difficult to concentrate, and therefore to be able to remember things. Diseases, disorders, or medical conditions that affect memory loss number approximately fifty according to some researchers.
Aging
Many Hypotheses
Mutations and chromosomal changes accumulate with age
Errors in duplication occur as we age due to damage from environmental causes.
Genetic program for aging is part of the development process
Cells can only divide a limited number of times
Others
Neurological Changes
Most people show mild memory and cognitive decreases as they age.
Reductions in:
Visual-Spatial ability
Verbal Fluency
Overall General Intelligence
Speed of Problem Solving
Others
Physiological Changes
Posture is less erect than younger adults
Stride length is shorter
Reflexes are slower
Sleep less and wake more frequently
(REM is also decreased)
Brain weight may decrease
Enzymes that synthesize many neurotransmitters decrease
Others
Regardless
Most reductions do not seriously impair your
quality of life
Senile Dementias
Involves loss of memory and cognition severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning
Must show two things
Memory loss
Problems in
Language Attention
Problem solving Perception
Judgment Others
Disorders That Cause Dementias
Alzheimers Disease *
Cerebrovascular Disease *
Parkinsons Disease
Alcoholism
Brain Tumors
Vitamin Deficiencies
Thyroid Disease
Metabolic Disorders
Other
* Most Common
Alzheimers Disease
Most common cause of Dementia
Affects 7% of people older than 65
Affects 40% of people older than 80
Five million people have Alzheimers disease
Next 25 years, expected to reach 15 Million
Cost will increase too
Get a long term care plan
Most symptoms occur about age 70
May develop earlier
May be a family history
Symptoms
Problems with memory
Problem solving
Language problems
Calculation problems
Visual Spatial Problems
Judgment Problems
Abnormal Behavior
Some develop Psychotic Symptoms
Hallucinations
Delusions
Others
Prognosis
In all patients
Mental and physical functioningbecomes impaired
No real test available to detect the disease while living. Several underclinical testing.
Diagnosis usually done at autopsy
Brain Damage Areas
Neocortex
Entorhinal area
Hippocampal formation
Amygdala
Anterior Thalamus
Brain Stem Structures
Others
Consequences
Damage to entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and medial temporal gyrus results in memory loss and attention deficits.
Damage in limbic cortex, amygdala, thalamus and others result in behavioral and emotional problems
Cell Damage
Damage to
Glutaminergic pyramidal neurons
Interneurons
Hippocampal pyramidal neurons
Cytoskeleton is often damaged
Often see neurofibrillary tangles
Impairs axonal transport and causesother problems
Later the cell dies
Amyloid Deposits
Often occur in Alzheimers patients
Is a classic marker for the disease
Occur throughout the brain and in blood
vessels as well.
Treatment
No cure
Treat symptomatically
Newer treatments may be more positive
Vitamin E appears to delay onset of
some symptoms by about 7 months
Conclusion
Try to identify early
Get plenty of help and support
Have a long term care plan in place
Will impact many of you
Be Prepared
