Ch18 Disorders Of Aging And Cognition Flashcards
(13 cards)
The most common type of neurocognitive disorder, usually occurring after age 65, marked by memory impairment; 6th leading cause of death in the country and 3rd leading cause of death among the elderly
Alzheimer’s Disease
How common is Alzheimer’s disease?
Accounts for 2/3 of all neurocognitive disorder cases; 5 million in US (expected to triple by 2050)
Sphere-shaped deposits of beta-amyloid protein that form in the spaces between certain brain cells and in certain blood vessels as people age. People with Alzheimer’s disease have an excessive number of such plaques
Senile Plaques
Twisted protein fibers within certain brain cells as people age. People with Alzheimer’s disease have an excessive number of such tangles
Neurofibrillary tangles
The memory system that collects new info; also known as working memory
Short-term Memory
The memory system that contains all the info that we have stored over the years
Long-term memory
What neurotransmitters play important roles in memory?
Acetylcholine and glutamate
What drugs are used to treat Alzheimer’s disease?
Tacrine (Cognex) Donepezil (Aricept) Rivastigmine (Exelon) Galantamine (Reminyl) Memantine (Namenda) OR vitamin E alone or in combo with previous listed drugs
A rapidly developing, acute disturbance in attention and orientation that makes it very difficult to concentrate and think in a clear and organized manner
Delirium
A disorder marked by a significant decline in at least one area of cognitive functioning; previously known as dementia
Neurocognitive disorder
A neurocognitive disorder in which the decline in cognitive functioning is substantial and interferes with a person’s ability to be independent
Major neurocognitive disorder
A neurocognitive disorder in which the decline in cognitive functioning is modest and does not interfere with a person’s ability to be independent
Mild neurocognitive disorder
The field of psychology concerned with the mental health of elderly people
Geropsychology
