Question

Identify a common perceptual, neurological, or cognitive issue and discuss contributing factors.

Answer 1

Perceptual dysfunction is a type of mental disorder which affect the perception that may include visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory or somatosensory. Mental disorders mainly affect the cognitive abilities like perception, learning, memory and impair intellectual functioning, these are collectively called as neurocognitive disorder. Dementia and delirium is main symptoms of neurocognitive disorders.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder which is most common form of dementia. The exact etiology of the Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown. It generally precipitates in the late middle age or in old age with progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation and affect mood and behavior.

It occurs mainly due to degeneration of neurons especially in the cerebral cortex, formation of neurofibrillary tangles and plaques formation in beta-amyloid cells.

Several factors that contribute the progress of the AD are:

· Neurochemical factors

· Environmental factors

· Genetic and immunological factors

· Other risk factors

Neurochemical factors includes various substances as acetylcholine, somatostatin, substance P or norepinephrine. The changes in the level of these neurotransmitters or substance causes progression of AD. Environmental factors includes certain infection, cigarette smoking, industrial toxins, metal toxins and use of cholesterol lowering drugs like statins also causes degeneration of neurons that leads to AD. Apolipoprotein4 (APOE4) induces formation of harmful proteins called plaques in the brain. Risk factors like Down’s syndrome, high blood pressure, head injuries, age, gender, poor sleep pattern and smoking and drinking habits are also contributing in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.