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GENERAL CAUSES OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT DISORDERS.

 


Today's topic is on general causes of Cognitive Impairment Disorders.What are the general causes?

Cognitive psychotic conditions have a variety of causes etiologies.We shortcut it as "MEND-A-MIND".

It helps to recall the various possible causes of Cognitive Impairment Disorder END-A-MIND;=

M-Metabolic              

E-Electrical Disorders  

N-Neoplastic Disease

D-Degenerative Disorders

A-Arterial Diseases 

M-Mechanical Disease

I-Infections

N-Nutritional Disease 

D-Drug Toxicity


Like most mental disorders, cognitive disorders are caused by a variety of factors. Some are due to hormonal imbalances in the womb, others to genetic predisposition and still others to environmental factors. Common environmental causes of cognitive disorders include a lack of proper nutrients and interaction during vulnerable stages of cognitive development, particularly during infancy.

Other common causes of cognitive disorder include substance abuse and physical injury. When an area of the brain that determines cognitive function is damaged, either by the excessive use of drugs, by alcohol or from physical trauma, those neurophysiological changes can result in cognitive dysfunction.

Cognitive disorder signs vary according to the particular disorder, but some common signs and symptoms overlap in most disorders. Some of the most common signs of cognitive disorder include:

  • Confusion
  • Poor motor coordination
  • Loss of short-term or long-term memory
  • Identity confusion
  • Impaired judgment

Some cognitive disorders develop in stages and symptoms increase in severity the further the disease progresses. Alzheimer’s disease, for example, begins with the patient showing very minor signs of forgetfulness. Sufferers may forget names they know well, or they may have trouble remembering what they did recently. The initial symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease are often indistinguishable from normal memory errors. However, as the disease progresses, the affected person’s memory becomes persistently impaired. They may have rare moments of clarity, but life is generally lived in a state of confusion.


Drug Addiction, Dependence and Withdrawal.



Cognitive dysfunction can make a person feel hopeless, and they may turn to unfortunate sources in an effort to regain some control over their mental state. Commonly abused substances include alcohol, illegal narcotics and prescription drugs. Stimulants are a commonly abused drug for those who are dealing with cognitive issues that impair the sharpness of their mental processes. It is also possible to become addicted to legitimately prescribed medication that was initially aimed at treating a cognitive disorder. Individuals with cognitive impairment may become dependent on their medications and suffer withdrawal if they attempt to get off them without proper medical supervision.


Medication Overdose.



Medication overdose is a serious issue that often results from dependence on a prescribed medication, including those for cognitive disorders. When a medication stops being effective, many individuals increase their dosage without consulting their doctor in an attempt to make the drug work again. Taking more than the prescribed amount of medication can easily result in drug overdose and have life-threatening consequences.

Various Causes of Cognitive Disorders.

Cognitive disorders can be caused by all sorts of brain problems, including tumors, strokes, closed-head injuries, infections, exposure to neurotoxins (i.e., substances that are toxic to the brain), genetic factors, and disease. The specific type of cognitive disorder someone develops depends on the part of the brain that is affected. For instance, a tumor that grows in the brain's speech centers will result in problems with communication. Similarly, an infection in the brain's motor centers will cause problems with movement. 

Tumors are masses of cells that grow and infiltrate the body. These masses of cells can be either benign (i.e., they will stop growing once they are removed via surgery) or malignant (i.e., they are difficult to remove and will continue to grow and spread). Both benign and malignant tumors in the brain can cause impaired cognitive functioning, depending on their size and location.

Even the most skilled surgeon cannot remove a benign tumor without causing some damage to surrounding brain areas. As a result, someone who has had a benign tumor removed may still experience residual weakness or numbness, for example. Individuals with malignant tumors will experience cognitive problems as the cell mass presses on and destroys healthy tissue in the brain and spinal cord, blocks the fluid that flows around and through the brain, and/or causes swelling due to accumulation of fluid. Malignant tumors are often lethal.

Strokes - disruptions in the blood supply to the brain - are one of the most common causes of brain damage. Strokes are caused by blockages to blood vessels (ischemic strokes), or when a blood vessel bursts (a hemorrhagic stroke). The risk factors for stroke include age, family history, heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking. Common cognitive effects of stroke include impaired memory, language difficulties, and paralysis, but depend on the part of the brain that is affected. 

Closed head injuries are blows to the head that do not penetrate the skull (e.g., when someone hits his or her head during a car accident). Concussions (when the brain bounces against the skull), hematomas (brain bruises or bleeding), and traumatic brain injuries all all types of closed head injuries. Again, the severity and type of cognitive impairment caused by closed head injuries depends on the portion of the brain that is injured.

Infections can also cause cognitive disorders. Both bacteria and viruses (e.g., the virus that causes rabies) can disrupt brain functioning. One of the most common forms of brain infection is meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges, the protective covering that surrounds the brain and the central nervous system. Meningitis can cause deafness, other forms of cognitive impairment, and in severe cases, death.

Repeated and/or significant exposure to toxic chemicals  such as metals,drugs or other substances can cause cognitive impairment. The type of cognitive impairment created by neurotoxins depends on the type of toxin, the degree of exposure (how much of the substance was taken in, and for how long), and when the exposure occurred. 

Some individuals who develop cognitive impairment have inherited a problem in their genetic makeup. For instance, individuals with Down syndrome have an extra 21st chromosome. People with this syndrome often have mental retardation (intellectual functioning that is significantly below average, combined with an impaired ability to adapt to the demands of everyday functioning). For more information on Mental Retardation.

Diseases that cause cognitive disorders can result from any one (or a combination) of the factors listed above. For instance, Huntington's Disease (a disorder that affects thinking, emotions, and movement), and multiple sclerosis (a movement disorder created when the body attacks the lining of brain cells, called myelin, which decreases the brain's ability to quickly and efficiently deliver messages) both have a strong genetic component. In contrast, Parkinson's Disease (a movement disorder described below) and Epilepsy (a disorder in which clusters of brain cells signal abnormally and cause seizures;  can have a host of causes, including defective genes, brain infections, tumors, etc. 

Cognitive-Disorders Related

Above are the general causes of Cognitive Impairment Disorders,so brethren,we must take very good care of our eating habits,self medication and our personal hygiene.


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