01:830:220 Lecture 14: Still Alice
Document Summary
Dementia: a gradual worsening loss of memory and related cognitive functioning. Gradual loss of neurons in the brain. Many people may not know they are suffering from a neural degeneration. Delirium: a confusional state that develops over a short period of time and is often associated with agitation and hyperactivity (disorganized thinking, reduced ability to maintain and shift attention) Drug-induced delirium involves hallucinations, not knowing where you are, etc. Only lasts a short period of time. Dementia is often associated with specific identifiable changes in the brain tissue. The only way to 100% know that someone is suffering from. Alzheimer"s is to do an autopsy after the person dies. Neurologists: physicians who deal with disease of the brain and nervous system. Has a phd. in clinical psychology with a neurological focus. Conducted a microscopic examination of deceased patient"s brain and found neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques. He would find different things in alzheimer"s patients brains after they died.
