Cognition chronic

Decreased intellectual capabihty Impaired cognition Chronic depression... 

Benzodiazepines. Several BZs have anticonvulsant activity and ate used for the treatment of epilepsy producing their anticonvulsant actions via interactions with the GABA /BZ receptor complex to enhance inhibitory GABAergic transmission (1). The anticonvulsant actions of the BZs tend to tolerate upon chronic usage in six months, and BZs also lead to withdrawal symptomatology. Other side effects include sedation, ataxia, and cognitive impairment. 

Vinpocetine (2), another dmg initially categorized as a cerebral vasodilator, is a member of the vinca alkaloid family of agents (7). However, interest in this compound as a potential dmg for learning and memory deficits comes from its abiUty to act as a neuronal protectant. This compound was evaluated in 15 patients with AD over a one-year period and was ineffective in improving cognitive deficits or slowing the rate of decline (8). However, in studies of patients with chronic vascular senile cerebral dysfunction (9) and organic psycho syndrome (10), vinpocetine showed beneficial results. 

Diagnostic criteria for inhalant use disorders in DSM-IV-TR are similar to those in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) (World Health Organization 1992). These criteria include biological, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions. The DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of inhalant dependence is given when three or more of the seven criteria are present (see Table 8-2). The first criteria to be considered here are tolerance and withdrawal. These phenomena are considered to be forms of adaptation to chronic administration of these compounds and were discussed extensively earlier in this chapter. 

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a self-help organization for people whose common goal is recovery from alcoholism, and it is the most widely accessed resource for individuals with alcohol problems (McCrady and Miller 1993). The philosophy is based on the concept of alcoholism as a chronic disease that cannot be cured, but one that can be halted by means of complete abstinence. AA has described 12 principles or steps to guide those in recovery. Twelve-step facilitation, a manual-based psychotherapy to promote AA participation (Nowinski et al. 1992), was equally efficacious, compared with cognitive-behavioral and motivational enhancement therapies, in a large study of treatments for alcohol dependence (Project Match Research Group, 1997). 

Echeverria D, Woods JS, Heyer NJ, Rohhnan DS, Farin FM, Bittner Jr AC, Li T, Garabedian C. 2005. Chronic low-level mercury exposure, BDNF polymorphism, and associations with cognitive and motor function. Neurotoxicol Teratol 27 781-796. 

Chronic exposure to Pb has been shown to cause anaemia, neurotoxic effects, such as reduced cognitive performance and reduced peripheral nerve conduction velocity, and nephrotoxicity. Children are more sensitive to exposure to Pb than adults, especially during the first 2 years of life [41], For children, exposure to lead can cause growth retardation, affect the neuropsychological development and cause encephalopathy [39]. Adverse reproductive effects due to lead exposure have been observed for both men and women. Exposure of pregnant women to low concentrations of lead is associated with miscarriages and low birth weights [40],... 

The Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome follows years of chronic alcohol abuse. However, alcoholics who do not develop this condition typically display a range of other cognitive impairments (Grant et al., 1987). Deficits in performance have been... 

Kokavec A and Crowe SF (1999). A comparison of cognitive performance in binge versus regular chronic alcohol misusers. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 34, 601-608. 

Johnstone EC, Crow TJ, Frith CD, Stevens J and Kreel L (1976). Cerebral ventricular size and cognitive impairment in chronic schizophrenia. Lancet, 1, 924-926. 

Omstein TJ, Iddon JL, Baldacchino AM, Sahakian BJ, London M, Everitt BJ and Robbins TW (2000). Profiles of cognitive dysfunction in chronic amphetamine and heroin abusers. Neuropsychopharmacology, 23, 113-126. 

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