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The function of the brain
The function of the brain
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The functions of the human brain are extremely fascinating. Each brain structure is responsible for different functions. When these structures are damaged or tampered with, the ability of those functions decline. For example, the cerebellum is responsible for a person’s balance. This is how people are able to walk correctly and maintain proper balance. When a person drinks alcohol, the cerebellum is affected and is not able to function properly. This why people have horrible balance when they are intoxicated. As a person ages, different brain functions can decline. When an elderly person experiences a progressive decline in cognition from a brain disease, they are suffering from dementia. Dementia is commonly referred to incorrectly as a disease. Dementia is a syndrome because it is intertwined with other diseases that cause the decline in cognition. For example, the main cause for dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. This progressive and irreversible syndrome will cause impairments to a person’s personal and social life by impairing orientation, comprehension, calculating ability, and learning capacity. It will also impair language, judgment, reasoning, and information processing. (Ferrara 494) Dementia is a syndrome and not a disease because of the three main causes, the progressive stages, and the acceptable treatments available.
The main causes for dementia fall under three categories; structural causes, infectious causes, and metabolic or toxic causes. Structural causes impact to the brain’s ability to function properly. (Ferrara 495) There are many different types of dementia syndromes that affect different areas of the cerebral cortex. For example, frontotemporal dementia affects the frontal and temporal lobes. Alzheimer’s dis...
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...dementia range from pre-dementia to moderate to advanced dementia. A diagnosis of dementia can be made through examinations, tests, and assessments. Some acceptable treatments from dementia include medical drugs and psychosocial therapies. Since there is not a cure for dementia, psychosocial therapies tend to have more benefits than medical drugs. (Draper 247)
Works Cited
Draper, Brian. Dealing with Dementia. Australia. Allen & Unwin. 2004.
Ferrara, Miranda. Human Disease and Conditions. Detriot: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 2010
Fundukian, Laurie J. The Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Health. 2nd Ed. Vol.1. Detroit: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 2010.
Grossman, Murray. What If It’s Not Alzheimer’s: A Caregiver’s Guide To Dementia. New York: Prometheus Books. 2003.
Whitehouse, Peter. The Myth of Alzheimer’s. New York: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data. 2008.
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“Dementia as a clinical syndrome is characterised by global cognitive impairment, which represents a decline from previous level of functioning, and is associated with impairment in functional abilities and, in many cases, behavioural and psychiatric disturbances” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK55480/
performance that involves, but is not limited to, a loss in at least 2 of the
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People with dementia may have problems with short-term memory, keeping track of their belongings, keeping up with plans, remembering appointments or travel dates. Many dementias are progressive. This means that symptoms start out slowly and gradually get worse with time. Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia are diagnosed based on careful medical history, a physical examination, laboratory tests, and the characteristic changes in thinking, day-to-day function and behavior related to each
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In this day and age, it seems as though almost everyone has experience a loved one taken away form a very serious disease known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is unbelievably devastating for everyone affected by it. This disease is causing major economical problems such as less occupancy in the nursing homes, and hospitals due to the rising population of elderly men and women being diagnosed with it everyday. Because there is not yet a cure for this disease and the percent of the population being diagnosed keeps rapidly rising, more time and money needs to go towards Alzheimer’s research.
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