1Listen to the audio lecture while viewing these slides1Psychology 372Physiological PsychologySteven E. Meier, Ph.D.Memory DisordersAlzheimer’s Disease2Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyAging• Many Hypotheses• Mutations and chromosomal changes accumulate with age• Errors in duplication occur as we age due to damage from environmental causes.• Genetic program for aging is part of the development process• Cells can only divide a limited number of times•Others3Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyNeurological Changes• Most people show mild memory and cognitive decreases as they age.•Reductions in:• Visual-Spatial ability• Verbal Fluency• Overall General Intelligence• Speed of Problem Solving•Others4Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyPhysiological Changes• Posture is less erect than younger adults• Stride lengt h is sho rter• Reflexes are slower• Sleep less and wake more frequently• (REM is also decreased)• Brain w eight may decrease• Enzymes that synthesize many neurotransmitters decrease•Others 5Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyRegardless• Most reductions do not seriously impair your • quality of life6Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologySenile Dementias• Involves loss of memory and cognition severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning• Must show two things•Memory loss •Problems in •Language Attention•Pro blem so lving Perceptio n•Judgment Others27Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyDisorders That Cause Dementias• Alz heimer’s Disease *• Cerebrovascular Disease *• Parkinson’s Disease• Alco ho lism• Brain Tumors• Vitamin Def icienc ies•Thyroid Disease• Metabolic Disorders•Other* Most Common8Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyAlzheimer’s Disease• Most common cause of Dementia• Affects 7% of people older than 65• Affects 40% of people older than 80• Five million people have Alzheimer’s disease• Next 25 years, expected to reach 15 Million• Cost will increas e too• Get a long term care plan• Most symptoms occur about age 70• May develop earlier• May be a family history9Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologySymptoms• Problems with memory• Pro blem so lving• Language problems• Calculation problems• Visua l Spat ia l Pro blems• Judgment Problems• Abnormal Behavior• Some develop Psychotic Symptoms•Hallucinations•Delusions•Others10Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyPrognosis• In all patient’s• Mental and physical functioning becomes impaired• No real test available to detect the disease while living. Several under clinical testing.• Diagnosis usually done at autopsy11Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyBrain Damage Areas• Neocortex• Entorhinal area• Hippocampal formation• Amygdala• Anterior Thalamus• Brain Stem Structures•Others12Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyConsequences• Damage to entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and medial temporal gyrus results in memory loss and attention deficits.• Damage in limbic cortex, amygdala, thalamus and others result in behavioral and emotional problems313Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyCell Damage • Damage to • Glutaminergic pyramidal neurons• Interneurons• Hippocampal pyramidal neurons• Cytoskeleton is often damaged• Often see neurofibrillary tangles• Impairs axonal transport and causes other problems• Later the cell dies14Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyAmyloid Deposits• Often occur in Alzheimer’s patients• Is a classic marker for the disease• Occur throughout the brain and in blood vessels as well.15Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyTreatment•No cure• Treat symptomatically• Newer treatments may be more positive16Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyDrugs• Tacrine (Cognex), • Donepezil (Aricept)• Rivastigmine (Exelon)• Galantamine (Reminyl• Ginkgo Biloba• All may help symptoms from becoming worse• Vitamin E appears to delay onset of some symptoms by about 7 months17Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyOthers• Vitamin E appears to delay onset of some symptoms by about 7 months• Cholinesterase Inhibitors• Has a modest effect on delaying symptoms• Also helps symptoms from becoming worse • May help control some behavioral symptoms • Works only for a limited time • Are not cures18Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyConclusion• Try to identify early• Get plenty of help and support• Have a long term care plan in place• Will impact many of you• Be