Nervous System; Cognitive Impairment & Dementia. Mental Health & Mental Illness

Brain

Housed within the skull, it is the main control center of the nervous system and controls all body functions.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system that is composed of the brain and spinal cord

Nerve

Bundle of fibers that send and receive impulses and messages between the brain and the body.

Spinal Cord

Connected to the brain; it includes nerves that run up and down the length of the back and transmit messages between the body and brain.

Affected

Term used to refer to the weaker or involved side of the body after stroke or injury.

Aphasia

Inability to understand and/or produce speech.

Blindness

Visual impairment

Cataracts

A condition in which cloudy spots develop on the lens of the eye, causing vision loss.

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA or Stroke)

Occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel within the brain leaks or ruptures. May be mild or severe. After, the person may experience weakness (hemiparesis) or paralysis (hemiplegia) on one side of the body, difficulty communicating, loss of bowel or bladder control, cognitive impairment, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), etc.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing

Dysphasia

Difficulty speaking

Epilepsy

A brain disorder that results from a disruption in normal electrical impulses in the brain, which causes repeated seizures.

Glaucoma

A disease in which increased pressure inside the eye causes damage to the retina and optic nerve. Often leads to vision loss and blindness.

Hemiparesis

Weakness on one side of the body.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis of one side of the body.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

A progressive disease in which the myelin sheath covering the nerves, spinal cord, and white matter of the brain breaks down over time. Without this protective covering, nerves cannot send messages and conduct impulses to and from the brain in a normal way. Symptoms vary and may include blurred vision, fatigue, tremors, poor balance, trouble walking, weakness, numbness, tingling, incontinence, and behavior changes.

Paralysis

The loss of the ability to move all or part of the body; which often includes loss of feeling in the affected area; plegia.

Paraplegia

Loss of function (paralysis) of the lower body and legs.

Parkinson's Disease

A progressive, incurable disease of the nervous system that causes a section of the brain to degenerate. Neurons in the brain that produce dopamine begin to break down and die. It affects muscle function causing them to become stiff and movement to slow. May also cause tremors, stooped posture, shuffling gait, pill-rolling, slurred speech, and a mask-like facial expression.

Quadriplegia

Loss of function (paralysis) of the legs, trunk, and arms.

Seizure

Involuntary, often violent contractions of muscles caused from abnormalities in the brain.

Spinal Cord Injury

Damage to the spinal cord as a result of trauma. The effects of the damage depend on the force of impact and the location of the injury. The higher the injury on the spinal cord, the greater the loss of function.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A traumatic injury to the brain by an eternal/outside force. The effects vary depending on what caused the injury and the location of the injury. May cause permanent brain damage, intellectual disabilities, personality changes, breathing problems, seizures, coma, memory loss, loss of consciousness, etc.

Unaffected

Term used to refer to the stronger or uninvolved side of the body not affected by stroke or injury.

Activity Therapy

Use of activities that a person enjoys to prevent boredom and frustration and also promote self-esteem; examples: walk, puzzles, music, read, etc.

Agitation

The state of being anxious, excited, restless, or troubled.

Alzheimer's Disease

A progressive, incurable, degenerative, and irreversible disease that causes tangled nerve fibers and protein deposits to form in the brain, eventually causing dementia. Symptoms appear gradually and as the disease progresses it causes greater and greater loss of health and abilities.

Catastrophic Reaction

An excessive reaction or overreaction to something; reacting to something in an unreasonable, exaggerated way.

Cognition

The ability to think logically and clearly.

Cognitive Impairment

The loss of ability to think logically and clearly; concentration and memory are often affected.

Confusion

The inability to think logically and clearly. The person may also experience difficulty focusing, feeling disoriented, personality changes, impaired judgement and decision making.

De-escalation

Techniques used to reduce or eliminate conflict.

Delirium

An acute state of severe confusion that occurs suddenly and is usually temporary.

Delusion

A persistent belief in something that is not true; false belief.

Dementia

A general term that refers to a serious, progressive loss of mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating.

Hallucination

False or distorted sensory perceptions; seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that are not there.

Hoarding

Collecting and putting things away in a guarded way.

Intervention

A way to change an action or development; getting involved in a situation to change what is happening.

Music Therapy

The use of music to accomplish specific goals, such as managing stress and improving mood and cognition.

Pacing

Walking back and forth in the same area.

Perseveration

The persistent repetition of words, phrases, questions, or activities over and over again.

Redirection

Steering or refocusing a behavior, attention, or thoughts to a different, more acceptable activity that still meets the person's basic needs

Reminiscence Therapy

A type of therapy that encourages people to remember and talk about the past.

Rummaging

Going through drawers, closets, or personal items that belong to oneself or to other people.

Stress

The state of being frightened, excited, confused, in danger, or irritated. Can be related to a positive or negative situation.

Sundowning

Increased agitation or restlessness that occurs in the late afternoon, evening, or even night in persons with cognitive impairment. May be caused by hunger, fatigue, change in routine or caregiver, or any new or frustrating situation.

Triggers

A situation, person, or event that leads to agitation.

Validating

Giving value to or approving.

Validation Therapy

A type of therapy that lets people with a cognitive impairment believe they are living in the past or in imaginary circumstances.

Wandering

Walking aimlessly and without purpose around the facility or facility grounds; often unaware of safety.

Anxiety

Uneasiness, worry, or fear often about a situation or condition. It can cause physical symptoms.

Bipolar Disorder

A mental health disorder in which the person experiences mood swings and changes in energy levels and the ability to function. The person may swing from periods of extreme activity or excitement (manic episode) to periods of deep depression or sadness (depressive episode).

Depression

A mental health disorder that affects mood and may cause a loss of interest in everything the person once cared about and may interfere with the person's ability to work, sleep, and eat. It may cause intense mental, emotional, and physical pain and disability. The person may also experience pain, sadness, fatigue, apathy, irritability, anxiety, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, withdrawal, isolation, guilt, etc.

Intellectual Disability

Most common developmental disability. Persons with this developmental disability may develop at a below-average rate. They may have below-average mental functioning and may have difficulty learning, communicating, moving, and adjusting socially.

Mania

A period of extreme activity, energy, and excitement. The person may also experience little sleep, delusions, big speeches, rapidly changing thoughts and moods, inflated self-esteem, overspending, and poor judgment.

Mental Health

A general term that refers to the normal functioning of emotional and intellectual abilities.

Mental Illness/Mental Health Disorder

A disorder that affects a person's ability to function in the family, home, or community. It often causes inappropriate behavior, confusion, disorientation, agitation, and anxiety.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A mental health disorder characterized by unwanted recurring intrusive thoughts and actions/behaviors that cause anxiety or stress. The person is unable to stop these thoughts and feels compelled to perform these actions.

Phobia

An intense, irrational fear of or anxiety about an object, place, or situation.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A mental health disorder caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms include reliving the trauma through flashbacks, bad dreams, and scary thoughts. The person may avoid places or thoughts that trigger reminders. They may be tense, easily startled, have trouble sleeping, anger, and have irritability.

Schizophrenia

A mental health disorder that affects a person's ability to think and communicate clearly. It also affects the person's ability to manage emotions, make decisions, understand reality, and interact with others. It is characterized by delusions and hallucinations. The person may have disorganized thinking and speech as well as disorganized behavior (slow movement, repeating gestures or movements). The person may show less emotion, may have less interest in things around them, and lack energy.

Substance Abuse

Repeated use of legal or illegal substances in a way that is harmful to oneself or others.

Suicide

The act of intentionally taking one's own life.