Autism and Dementia - Case Study Example

Autism and Dementia Introduction Neurodevelopmental disorders of the brain function are impairments on the brain’s growth and development. These disorders affect the learning ability, memory, self-control and human emotions. As a patient grows, the adverse effects of the disorders become more profound and may affect the patient’s family or the society surrounding him. The disorders that occur during infancy or childhood include Autism spectrum and autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, motor disorder and Down syndrome among others. The disorders have a multiplex causes that range from genetics, metabolism, deprivation, immune status, nutrition factors, exposure to trauma, environmental status and toxicity (Association, American Psychiatric, 2013). Autism The most profound neurodevelopmental disorder is autism. This disorder is characterized by impaired communication (both verbal and non-verbal), limited social interaction, repetitive and restricted behavior. In childhood, the signs are observed at the age of one to two years. However, the children with autism may achieve developmental milestones just like normal children and latter regress. Causes of Autism In most cases, autism is highly caused by heredity, genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. In few circumstances, autism is associated with birth defect causing agents. However, the environmental cause of autism is an issue that is subject to controversy since the vaccine hypothesis has been disapproved in many scientific studies. Autism affects the brain’s information processing ability by altering how synapses and nerve cells organize and connect. Despite numerous extensive researches on the neurobiology of autism, the heterogeneity of the main cause of autism remains unknown. The intense World Syndrome has introduced a hypothesis that autism is neurobiology grounded. Additionally, the hypothesis further explains that it works upward from the molecular, the cellular and the circuit level until it gets to the potential cognitive levels (Calleo, 2008). This hypothesis obtains its foundations from the experiments on the valproic acids of the rat model of autism. The experiments explored the alterations across the cellular, molecular, circuit, synaptic and behavioral model where pregnant rats were given high intake of the Valporic acid. The study showed that the rats had higher risk of getting autistic off springs. The hypothesis was postulated to human beings. In this case, the synaptic dis-function may result from mutations where the nerve cell adhesion to the synapses disrupts the synaptic pathway. According to a past research on replacement of genes in mice, autistic symptoms are closely associated to later developmental stages that depend on activity within the synapses as well as activity dependent changes. Additionally, birth defect causing agents related to high risk of autism are observed within the first 8 weeks after conception. As a result, autism tends to occur at the early development stages of a child (Calleo, 2008). Autism is highly associated hyperactivity to stimuli (such as sound, light and touch), sleep disorder, hyper connection of neurons and alteration of memory process. Autism is also associated with hyperactive learning (where autistic children memorize and learn better), hyper emotions (hyper excitement and fear), epilepsy and hyper perception of emotions. Currently, in the United States, there are 1-2 autistics per 1000 people while the preference for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is 6 per 1000 people. An epidemiological analysis indicates that autism in boys is more common compared to girls (Calleo, 2008). Additionally, autism has increased significantly in early 2000s compared to the 90s. The increase has been attributed to changes in the referral patterns, diagnostics practices, environmental risk exposure and public awareness Dementia Dementia is a neurocognitive disorder that results in gradual and in most cases long-term decrease in the brain’s ability to think or remember. On numerous occasions, dementia patients have emotional problems, visual-spatial problems, attention problems, execution problems and communication problems. They often feel less motivated and the disease distorts an individual’s occupational and social functioning (Gauthier, 2006). The disorder does not affect an individual’s consciousness. However, it is associated with behavioral and psychological problems such as Dis-inhibition and impulsivity, Agitation, Balance problems, Tremor, Delusions, restlessness and memory loss problems. The different types of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, Frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, Parkinson disease, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease and syphilis just to mention a few. Dementia affects more than 20- 36 million people globally with prediction of doubling by 2040. It is estimated that 10 percent of these individuals develop the symptoms between the ages of 30-65 years. Additionally, 3 percent of the patients develop the symptoms between the ages of 66-75years. Moreover, 19 percent of the patients develop the symptoms between the ages of 76-84 years. The largest percentage of dementia patients are 85 years and above. In 2010, more than 400,000 deaths occurred as a result of dementia. Additionally, the disease is becoming more common due to a rapid increase in population especially the elderly who live for longer period (Gauthier, 2006). Dementia is less prevalent in developed countries due to decrease in risk factors. Causes of Dementia Dementia causes disability in elderly persons. As a result, dementia patients are chemically restrained or physically impaired and are often stigmatized. It has varying levels of severity. The mild cognitive impairment levels is the initial stage where a patient has problems finding words but can solve daily problems and handle their own affairs. The early stage is the second level where the patient forgets simple daily routines and complex words but can handle financial matters. The caretaker is expected to constantly remind the patient on routines. The third and fourth stages include the middle and late stages respectively. Dementia worsens and the patient is severe impaired on problem solving skills and sound social judgment. This calls for personalized care on personal hygiene and continuous observation in order to maintain the patient’s safety and security (Gauthier, 2006). Its diagnosis is usually based on the patient’s history on the disease and cognitive testing (such as mini mental state evaluation) with blood analysis and medical imaging in order to establish the exact cause. In this case, different types of dementia have different causes. For instance, reversible dementia is caused by hypothyroidism, deficiency of vitamin B12, neurosyphilis and Lyme disease (Gauthier, 2006). As a result, appropriate checking and elimination of the causes may serve as preventive measures or a cure to the disease. Additionally, the patient may require brain scans to determine if dementia has been caused by brain infection (such as viral infections and Whipple disease), inflammations on the brain, metabolic causes (such as liver or kidney failure) or other rare diseases (such as acute porphyrias). Conclusion Treatment Options The preventive measures for dementia include decreasing risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. The cure for dementia is not exactly known. However, donepezil and other Cholinesterase inhibitors are used to manage mild and moderate levels of the disease though the effects of donepezil may be minor (Gauthier, 2006). Additionally, memantine and other N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blockers can be used. Dementia patients often require personalized care as well as behavioral and cognitive intervention programs. A caregiver may provide emotional support and educate the patient on normal activities. Additionally, the patient may be given antipsychotic drugs but these medicines are not recommended since they increase the risk of death. Additionally, constant testing and screening exams may prove to be useful for elderly persons above 65 years. Since there is no exact cure for dementia currently, psychological therapy management programs such as music therapy, massage, aromatherapy, reminiscence therapy, validation therapy and mental exercises are recommended (Gauthier, 2006). The cure of autism and expected recovery time is unknown, but management of autism has lessened the associated distress of autistic children. The management involves physiological intervention, behavioral therapy, occupational therapy and structured teaching programs. Though medication therapy to cure autism exists, the procedures are extremely costly and may be fatal to the patients. Instead, social and family support may assist the autistic child to transition into adulthood (Association, American Psychiatric, 2013). References Association, American Psychiatric. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders : DSM-5. (5th ed. ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association. Calleo, J., & Stanley, M. (2008). Anxiety Disorders in Later Life Differentiated Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies. Psychiatric Times Gauthier, S. (2006). Clinical diagnosis and management of Alzheimers disease Abingdon. Oxon: Informa Healthcare. . Read More