cognition

genetics

80% influence of cognition

-attention & working memories have different genes that contribute

*dementia & schizophrenia have nonmodifiable genetic component (increases risk)

other risk factors: population, lifestyle, environmental factors, health conditions

hallmark of impaired cognition

-altered perception & thinking

general manifestations of altered cognition

-perception

-attention

-memory

-communication/ social cognition

-motor coordination

-execuative function

-intellectual/ learning

agnosia

inability to recognize objects through use of one or more senses

anomia

type of aphasia where individual not able to recall everyday objects

alogia

poverty of speech

dyspraxia

difficulty with acquisition of motor learning and coordination

Apraxia

alterations in speech due to motor function

carphologia

-lint picking behavior often seen in dementia

avolition

decrease in motivation or inability to initiate goal directed activity and may be in part related to executive dysfunction deficits

intellectual vs. learning disability

-learning= impacts individuals to process info (impacts learning in one area without affecting adaptive skills)

-intellectual= significant limitation in intellectual function begins around 18 (impact large adaptive skills)

delirium

-acute change in mental state causing confusion

-caused by medical conditions, trauma, substances use/ withdrawal

-reversible, linked to underlying cause

*polypharm!

dementia

-loss of one or more brain functions due to degeneration of nervous system

**chronic progressive

causes of dementia

-degen disease, vascular problems, metabolic issues, infections, toxins, meds, oxygenation

**range from mild to moderate and have multiple causes

psychotic disorders

-loss of reality, usually requires medical evaluation

*psychosis can be caused by medical conditions & substances

psychosis

abnormal mental state that altered thought processes and perception in reality

positive symptoms of schizophrenia

-add to things that aren't there

-ex. delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (false sensory experiences), disorganized speech

*2 or more symptoms last at least 6 months & interfere w ability to work/ maintain social relationships

-rule out physiological causes

negative symptoms of schizophrenia

-things that are taken away that should be there

-ex. anhedonia, flat affect, apathy, anergia, alogia (poverty of speech), avolation (lack of motivation)

6As

clang association

combine related or rhyming words together

*schizophrenia

promoting cognitive health

-prevention, early detection and person centered care that values independence and well being

types of prevention

universal (entire populations)

selective (high risk groups)

indicated (showing warning signs of a disorder)

physical assessment

-can reveal clues to underlying cognitive syndromes (intellectual disabilities, schizophrenia)

diagnostic tests

-labs, imaging and psychometrics help pinpoint cause and extent of cognitive changes

risks for altered cognition during development

-exposure to toxins

-maternal stress

-nutritional deficits

-illness