Cognitive disabilities

In addition to such direct advantages, pervasive computing has a big social contribution to make. It can be used, for example, to enable patients and their relatives to keep in touch, and to help people with cognitive disabilities function on a daily basis. One illness that lends itself to such treatment is senile dementia, which is likely to be a growing trend in the graying populations of the Western World. 

The costs of care for people with cognitive disability in the UK have been estimated at between UK 14 926 and 47 232 per person (updated to 1997/8 costs), depending on the severity of disability and the setting of care (Kavanagh et al, 1993 Kavanagh and Knapp, 1999). Reports of the total costs of care for people with dementia in the UK range from 1 billion to 6 billion per year (Gray and Fenn, 1993 Bosanquet et al, 1998 Manca and Davies, 1999). These... 

One study used quality-adjusted life years to capture the range of health-related dimensions that may affect the quality of life of patients. This measure also provides an estimate of the value or preferences for changes in health status (Neumann et al, 1999). The study used the Health Utility Index Mark II in a sample of patients and carers, which is a generic measure of the value of health-related quality of life. However, it is clear that further research is needed to explore (a) the key determinants or dimensions of quality of life that are important to people with dementia and their carers (b) whether existing instmments to measure and value health-related quality of life are able to detect differences in quality of life that are important to people with cognitive disability and their carers and (c) whether the assessment and... 

Researchers find that abuse and violence can alter a child s brain chemistry, placing him or her at risk for various problems, including drug abuse, cognitive disabilities, and mental illness later in life. 

Axonal damage secondary to myelin loss is a major cause of sensory, motor, and cognitive disabilities in adult MS (Bjartmar and Trapp, 2001). The lack of myelin recovery may be due primarily to deficiency in the genesis of OPCs and in their maturation in the adult CNS (Franklin, 2002 Stangel and Hartung, 2002). Limited myelin regeneration is observed in early demyelinating lesions in MS (Wolswijk,... 

Developmental disabilities, which again through continued research are often referred to currently as cognitive disabilities, include Tourette s syndrome, dyslexia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Mental illness includes depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality, to name only a few of the conditions that can destroy the lives of individuals and wreak havoc on family and friends. 

The emphasis on psychomotor and physical aspects (injury) should not distract from the possibility that those who live by their intellect and imagination (politicians and even journalists may be included here) may suffer cognitive disability from thoughtless prescribing. 

At this age, Roberto s brain is irreversibly damaged. He s attending a school for developmentally disabled children. He s not suffering from classical autism, but will likely be living for the rest of his life with various cognitive disabilities that will remain a severe handicap. 

Two patients who had been taking methyldopa 1 to 1.5 g daily for hypertension, without problems, developed a dementia syndrome (cognitive disabilities, loss of memory, disorientation, etc.) within 3 days of starting to take haloperidol 6 to 8 mg daily for anxiety. The symptoms totally cleared within 72 hours of stopping the haloperidol. Another patient treated with haloperidol for schizophrenia, and methyldopa for hypertension, became very irritable and aggressive. When the methyldopa was replaced with hydrochlorothiazide, the patient s behaviour improved dramatically. ... 

Section 508, an amendment of the Rehabilitation Act, legislates requirements for U.S. Federal agencies to make electronic and information systems accessible to people with disabilities. The legislation covers the accessibility of a wide array of hardware and software products and systems by people with sensory-motor and cognitive disabilities. 

The molecular mechanisms underlying the neurological deficits observed in individuals with PKU are unknown. However, decreased levels of neurotransmitters, including dopamine, are likely to play a major role in the observed cognitive disabilities (Diamond et al., 1994 Puglisi-Allegra et al., 2000 Pascucd et al., 2002). To date, two distinct theories have been proposed to explain the phenomenon (for review, see Dyer et al., 1996 and 2000). The tyrosine/dopamine theory predicts that cognitive difficulties stem from decreased levels of tyrosine, the... 

In summary, antipsychotic drugs have a significant impact on the acute resolution and the maintenance of remission of symptoms of schizophrenia, enabling focus on rehabilitation efforts directed at residual cognitive, social, and occupational disabilities. The... 

Benzodiazepines are used commonly in SAD however, there are limited data supporting their use. Clonazepam has been effective for social anxiety, fear, and phobic avoidance, and it reduced social and work disability during acute treatment.58 Long-term treatment is not desirable for many SAD patients owing to the risk of withdrawal and difficulty with discontinuation, cognitive side effects, and lack of effect on depressive symptoms. Benzodiazepines may be useful for acute relief of physiologic symptoms of anxiety when used concomitantly with antidepressants or psychotherapy. Benzodiazepines are contraindicated in SAD patients with alcohol or substance abuse or history of such. 

Should people use genetic manipulations in human embryos to correct gene mutations which would otherwise lead to Alzheimer s disease or learning disability If so, is it ethical to use the same procedure to improve cognitive function in persons who are healthy but with low intellectual ability How should society define normal Where should we draw a line between moral compassion and unethical obsession ... 

This chapter is concerned with the neurochemical basis of developmental disability which is considered here in two forms the globally delayed or halted development seen in mental retardation, and the more circumscribed pattern of disordered development of autism. A range of deficits of important key aspects of consciousness are apparent in both conditions. Of particular relevance to consciousness are the cognitive and behavioural impairments in attention, concentration, memory, information processing and social behaviour which are commonly present. Consideration of aberrant neurotransmitter activities in these developmental deficits may provide insights into the role of neurotransmitters in consciousness. 

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