Diagnosis and Symptoms
Which of the following is not a cause of neurocognitive disorders?
A. HIV infection
B. developmental disorders
C. substance use disorders
B. developmental disorders
Alzheimer’s disease often develops because brain cells slowly break down and die. Doctors believe changes in the brain's chemicals and these structures play a major role.
What are abnormal proteins/plaques in the brain?
Patients with Parkinson’s disease may develop this cognitive disorder marked by slowed thinking and eventual memory decline.
What is Parkinson’s disease dementia?
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but these can help slow memory loss and help with daily life.
(Hint: not surgery)
What are medications and memory-support therapies?
Many people think only elderly people get Alzheimer’s, but it can also affect younger adults.
What is the myth that Alzheimer’s only happens to old people?
This disease is caused by an infectious agent that results in abnormal protein accumulations in the brain. These abnormal protein accumulations are also believed to be the cause of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) in humans.
Prion disease
Too much of this drug, found in alcohol, can harm brain cells over time.
What is alcohol (refers to the presence of ethanol)?
A stroke can cause this sudden-onset cognitive condition, leading to memory and language problems depending on the region of the brain affected.
What is vascular dementia?
This type of therapy teaches memory tricks, routines, and organization skills to help people stay independent longer.
What is cognitive or memory training?
Some believe people with dementia “aren’t aware of anything.” In reality, many still recognize emotions, routines, and loved ones.
What is the myth that people with dementia have no awareness?
This progressive brain disorder causes memory loss, confusion, and other cognitive decline.
Alzheimer's disease
Poor nutrition, lack of oxygen, or exposure to toxins can damage neurons and lead to this general type of disorder.
What are neurocognitive disorders?
This disease causes brain cells to break down over time, leading to memory loss and confusion.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
For some types of dementia, lifestyle changes like exercise, healthy diet, and staying mentally active can help do this.
What is slow down symptoms or improve brain health?
People sometimes think these disorders are a normal part of aging, but they are actually medical diseases that damage the brain.
What is the myth that cognitive decline is just normal aging?
This neurocognitive disorder is dementia caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain, typically a series of minor strokes.
Vascular Neurocognitive Disorder
Long-term depression and stress can change brain chemistry and shrink this memory-related structure.
What is the hippocampus?
This rare and deadly brain disease caused by misfolded proteins leads to rapid memory loss and body decline, often within a year.
What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?
In Parkinson’s disease, treatment often includes these medications, which help control shaking and movement to improve daily functioning.
What are dopamine-based medications?
(or: What are Parkinson’s medicines?)
A harmful stereotype says people with cognitive disorders become “violent” or “dangerous.” Most are not — they may simply feel confused or scared.
What is the stereotype that people with cognitive disorders are dangerous?
Which of the following is not a type of neurocognitive disorder?
A. moderate neurocognitive disorder
B. delirium
C. mild neurocognitive disorder
D. major neurocognitive disorder
E. all of the above are types of neurocognitive disorder
A. moderate neurocognitive disorder
When the brain gradually loses nerve connections and tissue over time, this term describes the overall cause of decline.
What is neurodegeneration?
Heavy alcohol use over a long time can cause a severe brain disorder due to a lack of vitamin B1, leading to confusion and memory loss.
What is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?
What is the average annual cost of treatment for mild NCD?
Approximately $5,677
Some assume people with memory disorders “just need to try harder.” But these conditions affect brain function, not effort or intelligence.
What is the myth that memory problems are a choice or lack of effort?