Neurodevelopmental and Neurocognitive Disorders Paper

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Behavioral Criteria

Behavioral criteria for Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by symptoms that show evidence of significant cognitive decline from a previous level of performance in or more cognitive domains including complex attention, executive function, learning and memory, language, perceptual-motor, or social cognition (Butcher et al., 2014). This would include forgetting things, not being able to focus on an activity, trouble with speaking, and not being able to plan or manage situations. Another characteristic of behavioral criteria for Alzheimer’s disease is cognitive deficits interfering with independence in everyday activities such as bill paying or managing of medications (Butcher et al., 2014). This includes, at a minimum, an individual not being able to perform complex daily activities. Also, deficits should not occur exclusively in the context of delirium, and no other mental disorder should better explain the cognitive deficits. The diagnosis is based on a significant decline in cognitive function observed by a knowledgeable informant or clinician along with standardized neuropsychological testing and quantified clinical assessments.

Incidence Rates and Causes

Alzheimer’s disease has become a major health concern in recent years. It is the main contributor to most cases of dementia. At the current moment, 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Of this 5.2 million, two-thirds are women. It is estimated that this number will continue to escalate as the Baby Boom generation ages. Age is the most common risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease. Other risk factors include being female, currently being a smoker, fewer years of education, lower income, lower occupational status, and experiencing head trauma. Alzheimer’s disease is believed to result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that affect the brain over time. Alzheimer’s disease damages the brain by killing brain cells. As more and more cells die, the brain begins to shrink significantly. There are two types of abnormalities that are seen in brains that have Alzheimer’s disease. These hallmark signs are plaque and tangles. A plaque, consisting of a protein called beta-amyloid, forms around the outside of the cell and interferes with cell-to-cell communication. Also, in Alzheimer’s disease, threads of tau protein twist into abnormal tangles inside the brain cell. This leads to failure of the transport system that carries nutrients to the cells (Mayoclinic.com, 2014).

Treatment Options

Extensive research efforts are being seen in terms of finding treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is no current treatment that can restore functions one they are lost. Current treatment targets both patients and family members and aims to diminish agitation and aggression in patients and reduce distress in caregivers as much as possible (Butcher et al., 2014). Behavioral treatment is a form of treatment used in Alzheimer’s disease to help control problematic behavior. This includes wandering off, incontinence, and inadequate self-care skills. There are also medication treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease. These prescribed medications help to lessen systems, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time. Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are used to treat cognitive symptoms in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors sometime prescribe Vitamin E to help with cognitive symptoms as well.

Conclusion

Because the human brain does not always function as it was designed, doctors, researchers, and psychologists are making strives to better understand the disorders that derive from this situation. ADHD and Alzheimer’s disease are just two of several disorders that affect how the brain functions. Neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive disorders affect the quality of a person’s life as well as his or her relationships with family, friends, teachers, and others. From a psychological standpoint, these disorders provide the psychologist or clinician with an opportunity to counsel his or her client in terms of how to best handle his or her disorder.

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References

Butcher, J. N., Hooley, J. M., & Mineka, S. (2014). Abnormal psychology (16th ed.). Boston , MA: Pearson.

Mayoclinic.com. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/basics/causes/CON-20023871

Webmd.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/understanding-alzheimers-disease-symptoms