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Query: UMLS:C0751295 (memory loss)
 3,619 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Memory loss and other cognitive dysfunctions, although common in elderly persons, are not universal features of old age. Instead they herald the presence of various neuropsychiatric diseases, which are first recognized as syndromes. The two most common neuropsychiatric syndromes, dementia and delirium, produce global changes in cognition and other capacities. They are differentiated by the patient's level of consciousness, which is impaired in delirium but intact in dementia. Delirium is generally reversible and often indicates serious physical illness. Although dementia is occasionally reversible, the mainstays of its management and treatment are palliative. Comorbid psychiatric symptoms are common in patients with both delirium or dementia, and their recognition and treatment constitute an important task for the geropsychiatrist. The differential diagnosis of primary dementing illness and other psychiatric illnesses such as depression is complex, because symptoms of the two kinds of disorders often coexist and common pathogenetic mechanisms may underlie both syndromes.
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PMID:Diagnosis and management of memory loss and cognitive disorders among elderly persons. 789 18

We report a patient with Morgagni syndrome. The main aim of this paper is to discuss hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) and coexisting clinical feature and to describe the pathomorphology in detail on the basis of MRI images of the skull. The patient, a woman, was 82 years old when she first came to our hospital. She had a 20-year history of hypertension and chronic headache, and had been excessively obese till three years before. On admission she presented with a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms and signs including insomnia, disorientation to place, loss of memory, dementia, night delirium, reduced deep tendon reflexes in the lower extremities, urinary incontinence and upward gaze palsy. Because of a fair recovery within several days, it was suspected that so-called "treatable dementia" played a considerable role in the above-mentioned clinical state. Laboratory testing data, including hormone levels, were all within normal limits. EEG examinations showed slowed, diffuse, and poorly developed alpha-waves with no paroxysms. Cranial CT in horizontal sections disclosed a deformed frontal bone with convexlens-shaped thickening bilaterally and diffuse high density on both sides. MRI images revealed more detailed structures: the outer plate, diploe and inner plate of the skull, and abnormal ossifications. Based on these findings we diagnosed her illness as Morgagni syndrome. Recent reports, though few in number, have tended to focus on the EEG findings, hormones and psychiatric states in this syndrome, and descriptions of the HFI itself seem to be rare. The true cause of this syndrome is not yet known, so this rare presentation of MRI images of HFI is thought to be important in explaining this peculiar phenomenon in the skull.
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PMID:[MRI findings of hyperostosis frontalis interna--a case of Morgagni syndrome]. 875 3

Cognitive impairment has been repeatedly shown to be a delirium risk factor. Much indirect evidence suggests that right-hemisphere dysfunction plays a particularly important role. This retrospective, case-controlled study, from a 148-patient memory loss clinic database, compared neuropsychological measures of hemispheric function in cognitively impaired elderly veterans with and without a history of delirium. Eleven study subjects had a history compatible with DSM-III-R criteria for delirium. Controls selected from the same database had no known history of delirium and were matched for Mini-Mental State Examination scores and Geriatric Depression Scale scores. Compared to the controls, subjects with a history of delirium had significantly lower scores on Object Assembly and Visual Reproduction (p < .05), tests that are predominantly right-hemisphere dependent. There were no significant differences in left-hemisphere measures. It is concluded that right-hemisphere dysfunction may prove to be an important risk factor for delirium.
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PMID:Delirium and right-hemisphere dysfunction in cognitively impaired older persons. 911 74

Legionella is a frequent etiologic agent in the development of both nosocomial and community acquired pneumonias. Involvement of the nervous system is common in Legionella infections. We present a case of Legionnaires' disease which illustrates distinctive neurologic findings including delirium and cerebellar dysfunction. Furthermore, this paper reviews the neurological and psychiatric features of 609 Legionella infected patients with involvement of the nervous system. The most common signs were disorientation (58%), headache (52.4%), and somnolence (39.7%). Less frequent or rare were: cerebellar dysfunction (11.2%), hallucinations (8.4%), agitation or stupor (4.1%), affective disorders (3.1%), peripheral neuropathy (2.8%), pyramidal disturbances (2.1%), memory loss (1.6%), seizures (1.5%), cranial nerve palsies (1.5%), incontinence (0.7%), and extrapyramidal disturbances (0.3%). Cranial CT scans, cerebrospinal fluid findings, and nerve and muscle biopsies were usually unremarkable. Neuropathologic examinations failed to demonstrate specific characteristics. Hyponatremia and serum CPK level elevation were present in up to 89% and 50% of patients, respectively. Prognosis of disturbances of the nervous system was mainly good. We conclude that in the presence of definite neurological findings, pulmonary infection, hyponatremia, and CPK elevation Legionella infection should be considered.
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PMID:[Neurologic and psychiatric symptoms of legionella infection. Case report and overview of the clinical spectrum]. 927 65

A case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) with presenting Wernicke encephalopathy (WE)-like symptoms and severe insomnia is presented. An 80-year-old alcoholic man with a 6 month history of tremors, ataxia, memory loss and confabulation, developed profound insomnia, confusion, and delirium with vivid hallucinations. Polysomnography revealed a marked reduction of sleep time, with central-type sleep apnea. Neither myoclonus nor periodic synchronous discharge (PSD) was observed. An autopsy revealed diffuse spongiform changes and astrocytosis throughout the cerebral gray matter, with severe involvement of the mammillary bodies and thalamus. Prion protein (PrP) immunostaining was positive in kuru plaques in the cerebellum, PrP polymorphism at codon 129 was heterozygous Met/Val, and proteinase K resistant PrP (PrP(res)) was demonstrated by Western blotting. The lack of necrotizing lesions in the mammillary bodies, thalamus, and periaqueductal gray matter could rule out WE. The data suggest that the present case of CJD is consistent with PrP(res) type 2 (CJD M/V 2), but was unique in the lack of some typical CJD signs and the presence of signs of WE and sleep abnormalities.
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PMID:Wernicke encephalopathy-like symptoms as an early manifestation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a chronic alcoholic. 1037 Oct 84

Many studies have shown that brain infections occur early in HIV infection, usually within weeks of seroconversion. Asymptomatic seropositive persons frequently show HIV in the brain and spinal fluid. The most common presenting symptoms are memory loss, walking difficulties, mental slowing, and depressive symptoms. In patients with localized abnormalities, such as weakness, another opportunistic infection should be suspected. Most patients with HIV dementia have clear psychomotor slowing, greater than normal reflexes, and signs indicating widespread brain dysfunction. As the dementia progresses, patients develop language and attention problems, apathy, severe psychomotor slowing, and lack of insight. Delirium is a frequent side effect of the medicines used to treat dementia. Diagnosis is fairly simple, with MRI being used to rule out CMV, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, and herpes. AZT and antiretrovirals offer protective effects to delay the onset and progression of AIDS dementia. The AIDS Clinical Trials Group has completed a study showing that nimodipine, a calcium-channel blocker, can lessen damage to the brain, and is safe and generally well tolerated. Combination therapies, such as antiretrovirals with cytokine blockers, will probably emerge as the treatment of choice for dementia.
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PMID:Diagnosing and treating HIV dementia. 1136 57

This is a review on current knowledge of chronic occupational mercurialism syndrome. Major scientific studies and reviews on clinical manifestation and physiopathology of mercury poisoning were evaluated. The search was complemented using Medline and Lilacs data. Erethism or neuropsychological syndrome, characterized by irritability, personality change, loss of self-confidence, depression, delirium, insomnia, apathy, loss of memory, headaches, general pain, and tremors, is seen after exposure to metallic mercury. Hypertension, renal disturbances, allergies and immunological conditions are also common. Mercury is found in many different work processes: industries, gold mining, and dentistry. As prevention measures are not often adopted there is an increasing risk of mercury poisoning. The disease has been under diagnosed even though 16 clinical forms of mercury poisoning are described by Brazilian regulations. Clinical diagnosis is important, especially because abnormalities in the central nervous, renal and immunological systems can be detected using current medical technology, helping to develop the knowledge and control measures for mercurialism.
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PMID:[Chronic occupational metallic mercurialism]. 1248 28

Pellagra is a systemic disturbance caused by a cellular deficiency of niacin, resulting from inadequate dietary nicotinic acid and/or its precursors, the essential amino-acid tryptophan. In Europe and North America cases of pellagra are rarely encountered, but in some developing countries this disease is frequent, and is the most frequent clinical feature of nutritional deficiency of adult. The principal causes of pellagra are: nutritional niacin deficiency; chronic alcoholism; gastro-intestinal malabsorption; some medications (5-fluoro-uracil, isoniazid, pyrazinamide ehtionamide, 6-mercaptopurine, hydantoins, phenobarbital and chloramphenicol). The diagnosis of pellagra is based on the patient's history and the presence of "3 D syndrome": dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia. The dermatitis caused by pellagra is a bilaterally symmetrical erythema at the sites of solar exposure. The dermatitis begins in the form of an erythema with acute or intermittent onset gradually changing to an exsudative eruption on the dorsa of the hand, face, neck, and chest with pruritus and burning. Acute dermatitis of pellagra resembles sunburn in the first stages, sometimes with vesicles and bullae. The gastro-intestinal disturbances are: anorexia, nausea, epigastric discomfort and chronic or recurrent diarrhea. Anorexia and malabsorbative diarrhea lead to a state of malnutrition and cachexia. Stools are typically watery, but occasionally can be bloody and mucoid. Neuropsychologic manifestation included photophobia, asthenia, depression, hallucinations, confusions, memory loss and psychosis. As pellagra advances, patient become disoriented, confused and delirious; then stuporous and finally die. Pathological changes in the skin is non-specific, there are no chemical tests available to definitively diagnose pellagra. However low levels of urinary excretion of N-methylnicotinamide and pyridone indicates niacin deficiency. The treatment of pellagra consisted to exogenous administration of niacin or nicotinamide cures. Topical management of skin lesions with emollients may reduce discomfort. The therapy should also include other B vitamins, zinc and magnesium as well as a diet rich in calories. The prevention is based in the nutritional education (food sources of niacin: eggs, bran, peanuts, meat, poultry, fish, red meat, legumes and seeds), and the eviction of alcohol.
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PMID:[Pellagra]. 1620 85

Major depression is a mood disorder characterized by a sense of inadequacy, despondency, decreased activity, pessimism, anhedonia and sadness where these symptoms severely disrupt and adversely affect the person's life, sometimes to such an extent that suicide is attempted or results. Antidepressant drugs are not always effective and some have been accused of causing an increased number of suicides particularly in young people. Magnesium deficiency is well known to produce neuropathologies. Only 16% of the magnesium found in whole wheat remains in refined flour, and magnesium has been removed from most drinking water supplies, setting a stage for human magnesium deficiency. Magnesium ions regulate calcium ion flow in neuronal calcium channels, helping to regulate neuronal nitric oxide production. In magnesium deficiency, neuronal requirements for magnesium may not be met, causing neuronal damage which could manifest as depression. Magnesium treatment is hypothesized to be effective in treating major depression resulting from intraneuronal magnesium deficits. These magnesium ion neuronal deficits may be induced by stress hormones, excessive dietary calcium as well as dietary deficiencies of magnesium. Case histories are presented showing rapid recovery (less than 7 days) from major depression using 125-300 mg of magnesium (as glycinate and taurinate) with each meal and at bedtime. Magnesium was found usually effective for treatment of depression in general use. Related and accompanying mental illnesses in these case histories including traumatic brain injury, headache, suicidal ideation, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, postpartum depression, cocaine, alcohol and tobacco abuse, hypersensitivity to calcium, short-term memory loss and IQ loss were also benefited. Dietary deficiencies of magnesium, coupled with excess calcium and stress may cause many cases of other related symptoms including agitation, anxiety, irritability, confusion, asthenia, sleeplessness, headache, delirium, hallucinations and hyperexcitability, with each of these having been previously documented. The possibility that magnesium deficiency is the cause of most major depression and related mental health problems including IQ loss and addiction is enormously important to public health and is recommended for immediate further study. Fortifying refined grain and drinking water with biologically available magnesium to pre-twentieth century levels is recommended.
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PMID:Rapid recovery from major depression using magnesium treatment. 1654 86

The fast ripening of fruits means they may contain various harmful properties. A commonly used agent in the ripening process is calcium carbide, a material most commonly used for welding purposes. Calcium carbide treatment of food is extremely hazardous because it contains traces of arsenic and phosphorous. Once dissolved in water, the carbide produces acetylene gas. Acetylene gas may affect the neurological system by inducing prolonged hypoxia. The findings are headache, dizziness, mood disturbances, sleepiness, mental confusion, memory loss, cerebral edema and seizures. We report the case of a previously healthy 5 year-old girl with no chronic disease history who was transferred to our Emergency Department with an 8-h history of coma and delirium. A careful history from her father revealed that the patient ate unripe dates treated with calcium carbide.
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PMID:Calcium carbide poisoning via food in childhood. 1730 29


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