Mild Cognitive Impairment

Question: What is the stability of neuropsychological deficits in Mild Cognitive Impairment?

Answer: Definitly it is low, some estimates show that neuropsychological deficit entailes an inevitable loss in stability, particularly when it is concurs with other anomalies.

Question: Has anyone here had experience with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and its progress to Alzheimers or not? I have read that 80% of individuals diagnosed with MCI progress to Alzheimer's within 10 years. Assuming that this is true, one really does not know how long he/she has had MCI before being diagnosed. Scary!!!

Answer: It depends on what the impairment it is attributable to: lesions in the brain from a stroke, multiple sclerosis or a brain injury? These are just three out of many cognitive impairments that will not progress automatically into alzheimers Feel better now? :) Inge

Question: Dementia drugs for COPD-related cognitive decline? My dad is 83 with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He uses supplemental oxygen most of the time. Last year, a neurologist diagnosed him with “mild cognitive impairment.� The Dr. feels it could be connected to COPD, since my dad’s bloodstream has less-than-ideal levels of oxygen, hence, his braincells are not getting as much oxy as they need. I think this is called hypoxemia (vs. hypoxia, which is total lack of oxy). I’ve researched a bit on COPD-related mental decline, and it’s definitely real. My question is: how well do dementia drugs (i.e. for Alzheimer’s) work in a case like this? The doctor prescribed Aricept (classic Alzheimer’s drug). He didn’t promise anything, but said it’s worth a try. I’m not sure if it’s helping. I know there are stronger Alzheimer’s drugs, one being Namenda. If anyone's familiar with COPD/hypoxemic cognitive decline, I’d love to know more. My dad seems worse recently. I wonder if he has an age-related dementia on top of the COPD?

Answer: COPD-related cognitive impairment, as you know, is due to hypoxemia. It is not true dementia, but a form of pseudodementia. Because of the etiology, it will most likely not respond to standard dementia drugs. You may be on the right track by asking if he may have a co-morbid dementia. A course of medication for dementia may help, but it isn't likely to unless he really has Alzheimer's. If he has had TIAs, something like Zyprexa may help (it reduces agitation and psychosis). Your dad may benefit from seeing a neurologist to sort all of this out. The cognitive decline may be part of the downward course of the COPD, but the neurologist may be able to tell you, for sure.

Question: What could be the cause of my cognitive impairment? Hi there. Recently i have been to a neurologist who assessed my cognitive abilties and found out that i have many cognitive problems. Worst affected areas are speed of processing, visual and verbal memory, problem solving and planning. I have had these problems for about 2 years now and they slowly got worse over that time period. I was perfectly fine before these problems started(I could do my job ok, now i have lost my job). I have mild anxiety aswell. I was told the anxiety would not be severe enough to causes these cognitive problems. I also have muscle weakness, mild depression, and mild anhedonia. Could i possibly have Multiple Sclerosis? or could mild depression cause these cognitive problems. Or is there anything else i could have? The doctors are puzzled by my symptoms so i am now being referred to specialists. Any help much appreciated. Thanks

Answer: Your question shows you still have excellent cognitive skills and many people would envy your ability to write so coherently.

Question: Is this the appropriate use of the word "an"? "...encoding in older individuals with mild cognitive impairment, after a 8-week cognitive rehabilitation." Should it be "after AN 8-week cognitive rehabilitation"? Based on the sound of the word, it seems "an" would be more appropriate, however in this sentence 8 is written as a number and obviously does not begin with a vowel? So "an" or "a"? Thanks a lot.

Answer: An, since eight begins with a vowel. Doesn't matter how you wrote it, it's how you speak it. If you would write "an eight", then you would write "an 8", since they're both spoken the say way. And technically, the word doesn't even really have to start with a vowel... it just has to sound like it does. And that an honest answer. Notice how "honest" doesn't begin with a vowel? It sounds like it though, so you use "an" instead of "a" in that case too.

Question: what do you think of as a child in special ed? from reading answers here-it seems that people think special ed only refers to people with learnign disabilities like dyslexia-or mild cognitive impairments--the type of kids tehy see in their neighborhood public school- they think that ALL kids shoudlbe in the neighborhood school--no matter what that as teenagerd-ALL kids in special ed with want to enagage in typical teenage activities-going to football games, texting, surfing teh net. they seem to forget that the population include many people with severe needs----even when questions imply it is about someone with severe needs (person's goals are basic life skills-eating, dressing, communicating needs)--teh question is answered as if it is about a kid with dyslexia.. DO you think a child with severe cognitive impairment-who is learnign how to eat with a fork or communicate using a set of 2 pictures at 13..should be educated in tehneighborhood schoolk--just because that is where he would be if he did not have disabilities...or is it appropriate to educate kids with severe needs in an alternative setting/ Should this child be taught the regualr curricullum of algebra-when he can't even rote count or identify numbers 1 or 2... it seems some people think this----full inclusion no matter what--the algebra class should be adapted to meet the child's needs of learnign to count to 3--- to me taht would be detrimental to teh child---how is he supposed to learn to count to 3 when he is surrounded by 20 otehr learnign algebra? What do you think-- Where do you draw the line betweern keepign kids where they would be if tehy were not disabled and finding an alternative placement? When do you accept some people will not be an independent adult--and will need constant care-while still respecting their rights as an individual-you must still balance that with their needs? and you can't just say--you can't have authority just because the person with a disabiity is now an adult--that sometimes there still needs to be someone that has authority over some people with severe disabilities yes they can still go to football games--but with a buddy--i am talking about people with severe impairments-not ones that can read and write a little-understand things at a 1st grade level--I am talkign about people who may never achieve preschool level skills. they do exist--shoudl we say-they MUST be treated liek they are typically developing--doesn't that hurt them-by not addressing the need appropriately? sorry about the typing-I am physically disabled myself--- this is actually better than usual for my typing LOL! i am referring to SOME people who specifically answer questions about students with SEVERE impairments as is they are have a mild learning disabilityt like dyslexia.. people have said that ALL studenst regardles of IQ etc should be in a typical class studying teh regular curricullum- it is not ME that misundertsands- i am trying to point out others that do--and inform that that there is more to special ed than dyslexia--kids with sever impairments are locked away in hospital wards they are given an APPROPRIATE (not algebra and shakespeare) education sorry that i Only IMPLIED 'a few people think this way-and didn't actually write it

Answer: Children should be educated in the least restrictive environment. However it should also be appropriate. A child who can't even count to 10 or do basic maths like 1+1=2 shouldn't be in a class with students who are learing algebra. On the same note however they shouldn't be in a class with the "little kids" who are only just learning this because of their age. The class should be aimed at both their age and ability level because they will have more in common with a group of kids of a similar age who's abilities are similar because the level of the abilities they have has a major impact on what experiences they have had and what sense they can make of these experiences. I agree with although the law does say in most places that a school can't refuse to admit a child if they have special needs and should give them support and in most cases there is funding for this. For some children the mainstream classroom with an aide (either part or full time) is good but some children do need to be in an alternative class or school because that is the environment where they can best learn and the one that suits their needs the most. Another thing to this is that special schools tend to have more resources to educate these children. The student's who are recieving special education should follow the same subjects etc of the regular curriculum it just needs to be bought down to their level. This is how they do it where I am. They do teach stuff like mathematics and english and science it's just not at the same level that you'd teach the age peers. For instance they may be covering a topic in maths to do with shapes. The age peers may have to do something like work out the square of the hypotenuse and the radius of the circle while the students who are in the special school or class may only have to match them, name them or draw them.

Question: Should John McCain have a thorough Neurological exam? Aside from the Sarah Palin fiasco, McCain is two years older than his father was when he died suddenly of a heart attack at 70. He is 11 years older than his grandfather was when he died suddenly of a heart attack at age 61. The United States cannot afford the risk that McCain would die suddenly in the middle of an international crisis. Nor can we afford the risk of dementia. 22% of Americans over 70 are affected by mild cognitive impairment, while 13% of Americans over 65 have Alzheimer's. Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 83, but early signs were evident during his first term. Britain's "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher developed dementia at age 75. McCain has never had an Alzheimer's test, even though he has 6 of the 10 warning signs , including his inability to remember recent facts like the number of homes he owns, the $1M lawsuit he filed in 1990, or the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. John McCain owes America a thorough neurological examination for cognitive impairment and possible Alzheimer's long before Election Day. The records released so far exclude all his VA records and the PTSD diagnosis

Answer: A well thought out question. I would like to see the results of a test of this nature. We had to perform this kind of test for my father before he could go to this very nice home in Santa Cruz. It was a requirement to assure that he had all his faculties. Seems kind of unbalanced to require this for a nursing home but not for running the country. I would think everybody on both sides would like to see this if for anything love of country. BTW: my father is younger then McCain, he just had a very bad case of cancer.

Question: Should john McCain have a through Neurological exam? McCain is two years older than his father was when he died suddenly of a heart attack at 70. He is 11 years older than his grandfather was when he died suddenly of a heart attack at age 61. The United States cannot afford the risk that McCain would die suddenly in the middle of an international crisis. Nor can we afford the risk of dementia. 22% of Americans over 70 are affected by mild cognitive impairment, while 13% of Americans over 65 have Alzheimer's. Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 83, but early signs were evident during his first term. Britain's "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher developed dementia at age 75. McCain has never had an Alzheimer's test, even though he has 6 of the 10 warning signs , including his inability to remember recent facts like the number of homes he owns, the $1M lawsuit he filed in 1990, or the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. John McCain owes America a thorough neurological examination for cognitive impairment and possible Alzheimer's long before Election Day.

Answer: Yes he should and he needs to make a full disclosure of his service record. He wraps himself in his POW experience. He needs to come clean about everything. He needs to release his VA medical records especially those dealing with his PTSD.

Question: Isn't it scary that McCain would be two years older than Reagan was when he took office? He will turn 72 on Friday and would be halfway to 73 if elected and sworn in on January 20. That would make him the oldest first-term President ever, two years older than Ronald Reagan. He has survived four skin cancers (melanomas), including one in 2000 that was classified as Stage IIa. McCain is two years older than his father was when he died suddenly of a heart attack at 70. He is 11 years older than his grandfather was when he died suddenly of a heart attack at age 61. The United States cannot afford the risk that McCain would die suddenly in the middle of an international crisis. Nor can we afford the risk of dementia. 22% of Americans over 70 are affected by mild cognitive impairment, while 13% of Americans over 65 have Alzheimer's. Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 83, but early signs were evident during his first term. Britain's "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher developed dementia at age 75. McCain has never had an Alzheimer's test, even though he has 6 of the 10 warning signs , including his inability to remember recent facts like the number of homes he owns, the $1M lawsuit he filed in 1990, or the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. John McCain owes America a thorough neurological examination for cognitive impairment and possible Alzheimer's long before Election Day.

Answer: I would think that's reasonable. My Dad was in great health at 72, and still is not bad at 85.. He was active and going out hunting and such, and still sharp mentally, and has a bunch of medals from WWII. But he was not the same person he was even at 65, could not make the snap judgments and such. I would not want him to have to make important decisions. That is why the telemarketer scam artists target the elderly - they know they are easily influenced and confused. You can respect someone and their service and perhaps some of their ideas but health, including age, is a factor in high pressure jobs.

Question: READ THIS!! What do you think? [[taken from urbandictionary.com]] Drugs are chemicals that alter, block, or mimic chemical reactions in the brain. This causes an alteration of the body's normal processes, causing physical (Faster heartbeat, deeper respiration etc.), or mental (Elevated mood, new thought processes etc.) changes. Drugs are used for a myriad of purposes, from anaesthesia, to psychotherapy, to just being able to wake up in the morning (Caffeine). Drugs that are used for personal pleasure (often illegally) are called Recreational Drugs. Traditional RD's include marijuana, alcohol (Yes, it is a drug), MDMA (ecstasy), mushrooms, LSD, methamphetamine, heroin, crack/cocaine. Recreational drugs come under many criticisms, and praise by opponents, and users alike. Some believe the use of RD's to be immoral, and life-threatening, while others believe that new and thoughtful insights can come from drug use (especially psychedelics like mushrooms, and LSD) Other drugs include caffeine, psychedelic mushrooms diphenhydramine, dimehydrinate, mesculine, morphine, dextromethorphan, PCP, and chocolate (Chocolate contains theobromine, which is an effective cough suppressant, possibly more effective than cough syrups, which are also drugs. Theobromine has mild mood elevating effects. It's also the reason you don't feed chocolate to your pets.) Contrary to popular belief, drugs are not for stupid people. Stupid people are the reason that recreational substances cause such a problem in society. If used responsibly, drugs can bring about new insights, and positive life changes, or can be used to just sit back and relax after a hard day's work. They can leave you with a better, and renewed appreciation of life. (This is usually the work of psychedelics) Keep in mind that responsible drug use is just that: responsible. Using certain drugs with high addiction potential, like cocaine, crack, heroin, and methamphetamine to name a few, is not responsible, unless you have amazing willpower. Substances like marijuana, MDMA, and LSD to name a few can all be used responsibly, and can be very fun, but if used often, they can be detrimental to your health. LSD could warp your very perspectives on life to the point where you can't even look at certain things the same way anymore. Ecstasy is a neurotoxin which can leave you with long term depression. Finally, heavy marijuana use will damage your lungs (If smoked), and can leave you very unmotivated, and lethargic. It will also cause a mild cognitive impairment that will disappear after cessation of use. In closing to this long rant, if you're intelligent, drugs won't make you stupid. If used responsibly, drugs can be a catalyst to a better, more motivated, and eventful life. As long as your drug use doesn't cross into other areas of your life (Work, school, social) you'll be alright. On the other end of the spectrum, if you're an idiot and use drugs because it's hella fun, and cool, and you use them chronically, then they will probably catalyze your downfall. Especially if you blow guys at parties for your fix. If you don't want to use drugs, that's fine, I respect that, and your friends should too. But please, all anti-drug people out there, don't ***** at people for doing them, and telling them that they are ******* up their lives. Unless they actually are. Blowing guys are parties, doing crack everyday, robbing convienience stores for drug money, and smoking pot in class are all signs that your friend is a ****-up who needs to stop drugs. Remember, it's not the drugs people use, it's the people who use them. DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE??? WHY?

Answer: It is the people who are SUPPOSE to be able to be responsible Unless of course they are like me an addict and an alcoholic, u see, I have an addictive personality, and i have learned now, 4 me, 2 much of ANY ONE THING is not good 4 me...no matter what it is.