MEMORY

BY LINDA PIERSON-MULL

MEMORY = GRAY MATTER

¨ FRONTAL LOBE

¨ TEMPORAL LOBE

¨ PARIETAL LOBE

¨ OCCIPITAL LOBE

GRAY MATTER = AREA BETWEEN BLUE BOARDERS

BRAIN GROWTH¨ SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED CHANGES

BETWEEN AGES 3 AND 15.¨ THE BRAIN INCREASES FOURFOLD IN SIZE SINCE

BIRTH.¨ THE BRAIN REACHES ABOUT 95% OF THE

AVERAGE ADULT VOLUME AT AGE 5 OR 6.¨ ACCORDING TO STUDIES, THE MOST RAPID

GROWTH OF THE FRONTAL LOBE IS AT AGES 3-6.¨ THE GRAY MATTER SPIKES SHIFTS TO TEMPORAL

& PARIETAL LOBES AT AGE 6 TO PUBERTY. THEY PLAY ROLES IN LANGUAGE AND SPATIAL RELATIONS.

BRAIN GROWTH¨ AS CHILDREN AGE, THE GROWTH MOVES IN A WAVE

PATTERN FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR.¨ RIGHT BEFORE PUBERTY, THERE IS AN INCREASE IN GRAY

MATTER, AGE 11 FOR GIRLS & 12 FOR BOYS.¨ THERE IS ANOTHER INCREASE IN GRAY MATTER AT THE

ONSET OF ADOLESCENCE.¨ FOLLOWED BY A LOSS IN THE FRONTAL LOBES FROM MID-

TEENS TO MID-TWENTIES.¨ THE TEENAGE YEARS ARE A KIND OF CRITICAL TIME TO

OPTIMIZE THE BRAIN.¨ “IF THE BRAIN IS THE INTERNET, GRAY MATTER IS YOUR

COMPUTER AND THE WHITE MATTER IS THE TELEPHONE LINES THAT CONNECT YOUR COMPUTER TO ALL THE OTHER COMPUTERS ON THE PLANET”

DEMENTIA¨ SIGNS OF DEMENTIA

– RECENT MEMORY LOSS– DIFFICULTY PERFORMING TASKS– PROBLEMS WITH LANGUAGE– TIME & PLACE DISORIENTATION– POOR JUDGEMENT– PROBLEMS WITH ABSTRACT THINKING– MISPLACING THINGS– CHANGES IN MOOD– PERSONALITY CHANGES– LOSS OF INITIATIVE

TYPES OF DEMENTIA¨ ADHD ATTENTION DEFICIT / HYPERACTIVE DISORDER ¨ ALCOHOL DEMENTIA

¨ ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

¨ AUTISM / ASPERGER’S SYNDROME

¨ B12 DEMENTIA

¨ DEPRESSION

• DOWN’S SYNDROME

• FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME

• HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE

• PARKINSON’S DISEASE

• PICK’S DISEASE

• SCHIZOPHRENIA

ADHD – ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVE DISORDER¨ MOST FREQUENT IN MALES, IN CHILDHOOD.¨ DIFFICULT CONTROLING BEHAVIOR,ATTENTION,

MAKES MISTAKES¨ TROUBLE COMPREHENDING PROBLEMS¨ INTERRUPTS, VERY IMPATIENT¨ DRIVEN BY A MOTOR¨ SMALLER BRAIN VOLUME¨ ORIGINATES IN RIGHT FRONTAL LOBE¨ RESEARCH: MUCH TO BE LEARNED

ALCOHOL DEMENTIA

¨ EXCESSIVE DRINKING ¨ AFFECTS MEMORY, & LEARNING¨ NUTRITIONAL PROBLEMS, DIFFICULTY

MAKING DECISIONS, POOR JUDGEMENT, LACK OF INSIGHT, UNABLE TO LEARN NEW THINGS, PERSONALITY CHANGES

¨ RESEARCH: REVERSABLE IN EARLY STAGES IF: ABSTAINS FROM ETOH, AND VITAMINS REPLACED

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE¨ PROGRESSIVE DETERIORATION OF MENTAL

CHANGES¨ 4 STAGES: STARTS 3 YEARS BEFORE SYMPTOMS¨ 1. LOSS OF SHORT TERM MEMORY¨ 2. NOW SUFFERER DOESN’T REMEMBER THAT HE

LOST HIS MEMORY, (2-4 YRS)ADDITION TO #1¨ 3. TROUBLE DOING ADL, WALKING,

INCONTINENCE, LOOSING BALANCE¨ 4. TERMINAL STAGE: MUTE, SEIZURES, APHASIC,

& BEDRIDDEN¨ RESEARCH: METAL & ALUMINUM TOXICITY¨ ACETYCHOLINE DEFICIENCY

AUTISM & ASPERGER’S SYNDROME¨ APPEARS IN FIRST 3 YEARS¨ DEFICIENCIES IN VERBAL COMMUNICATION,

SOCIAL INTERACTIONS & PLAY¨ REPEATED BODY MOVEMENTS: FLAPPING HAND,

ROCKING & AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR¨ SUFFERS FROM ALLERGIC REACTION: FORMING

ANTIBODIES TO FOOD WHICH ATTACKS BRAIN CENTERS

¨ MORE OFTEN IN MALES¨ ASPERGER’S: PURE AUTISM, MALE BRAIN TYPE¨ RESEARCH: GLUTEN-FREE-CASIN-FREE DIET.

GLUTEN-FOUND IN WHEAT,RYE,BARLEY & OATS CASIN- FOUND IN DAIRY PRODUCTS

¨ AUTISTIC SUFFERERS SEEM DRUGGED

B-12 DEMENTIA¨ EXCELLENT HEALTH¨ CRY EASILY,DISORIENTATED, CONFUSED,

INCONTINENT, REFUSING TO EAT, LEAVES HOUSE PARTIALY UNCLOTHED

¨ MOST TESTS ARE NEGATIVE¨ SUFFERERS DON’T EAT WELL – SOMETIMES

VEGETARIAN¨ NO ANIMAL PROTEIN IN DIET¨ BY INJECTING VITAMIN B-12: 24 HRS SIT UP

AGAIN, 48 HRS REGAIN CONTROL OF BLADDER & FECES, 1 WEEK MEMORY RETURNS

¨ SOME PERSONALITY CHANGES REMAIN

DOWN SYNDROME¨ AKA: MONGOLISM¨ DETECTED BY AMNIOCENTESIS¨ PREGNANCY AFTER AGE 40¨ DECREASED MUSCLE TONE AT BIRTH, SUTURES ARE

SEPARATED, ODD SHAPED HEAD, SMALL MOUTH, PROTRUDING TONGUE, SHORT HANDS & FINGERS

¨ TRIPLICATION OF CHROMOSOME 21¨ GROWTH RETARDATION¨ ONLY REACHES A MENTAL AGE OF 8 OR 10¨ MORTALITY EARLY MOSTLY OF CARDIAC PROBS¨ RESEARCH: NO SPECIFIC TREATMENT ONLY SPECIAL

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

DEPRESSION¨ SYMPTOMS: DESPAIR, GUILT, EXHAUSTION,

ANXIETY, PAIN, SLEEP PROBLEMS, APPETITE DISTURBANCE, WORTHLESS, & UNLOVED

¨ MEMORY AFFECTED & THINKING SLOWED¨ BRAIN IS LESS ACTIVE, THEY SHOW SIMULAR

PATTERNS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA¨ BOTH PARTS OF FRONTAL LOBE ARE

UNDERACTIVE¨ CAUSED BY FIRING OF A CIRCUIT¨ AMYGDALA GIVES NEGATIVE FEELINGS¨ RESEARCH: ANTI ANXIETY DRUGS RAISE

NEUROTRANSMITTER LEVELS & TURN ON AREAS OF BRAIN THAT SHOULD BE ON & TURN OFF OTHERS

¨ ANTI-ANXITEY DRUGS ARE: LITIUM, PROZAC, & PAXEL

FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME¨ MOTHER WHO CONSUMES ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY¨ MOST SERIOUS CONDITIONS: SEVERE MENTAL

RETARDATION DUE TO IMPAIRED BRAIN DEVELOPMENT¨ FACIAL ABNORMALITIES: SMALL HEAD,EYES, SHORT EYE

OPENINGS, UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF UPPER LIP WITH FLAT UPPER LIP RIDGES, THIN UPPER LIP, & FLAT MAXILLARY JAW.

¨ EYES AND VISION EASILY DAMAGED BY ETOH¨ ALSO NICOTINE AND CARBON MONOXIDE FROM SMOKING

AFFECT FETUS¨ RESEARCH: WHEN ACETALDEHYDE (ACH) FOUND IN

ALCOHOL IS METABOLIZED THE FETUS BECOMES UNDERNOURISHED, & MALNUTRITION IS NOTED.

¨ EVEN IF MOTHER EATS PROPER FOODS THE PLACENTIA DOESN’T CARRY VITAMINS, MINERALS, & NUTRIENTS NEEDED TO DEVELOP FETUS

¨ RESEARCH: SPECULATIONS OF FAULTY CELL DEVELOPMENT IN MALE SPERM

F.A.S. EFFECTIVE TEACHING TECHNIQUES

¨ START WITH TEACHING RELAXATION, THEY CAN BE TAUGHT HOW TO RELAX & AVOID SHUTDOWN

¨ USE VISUAL CUES, MAKE COMMUNICATION SHORT & SIMPLE¨ USE MUSIC & RHYME IN TEACHING, CHILDREN RETAIN 90%¨ INCORPORATE KINAESTHETIC ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS JUMPING

ROPE TO JINGLES TO LEARN MATH FACTS. PRACTICE ORAL SPELLING WORDS WITH CHEERLEADING OR DRUMMING

¨ INTEGRATE NEW CONCEPTS WITH INFORMATION THE CHILD ALREADY UNDERSTANDS. USE EXAMPLES FROM THE CHILDS ADL WHEN TEACHING

¨ USE SCRIPTING THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM. SHORT, EASY TO READ HAND WRITTEN PLAYS CAN BE USED TO TEACH ANY SUBJECT, & HELPS THE CHILD WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD

¨ USE THE VISUAL MODE OF LEARNING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE¨ MAKE VIDEOTAPES TO TEACH¨ ALLOW THE CHILD TO DRAW A PICTURE TO EXPLAIN WHAT HE OR

SHE IS FEELING. DRAW PICTURES WITH THE RULES OF THE CLASSROOM

HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE ¨ CAUSES DETERIORATION OF INTELLECTUAL ABILITY, EMOTIONAL

CONTROL, BALANCE & SPEECH¨ THE DISEASE IS PROGRESSIVE & DEGENERATIVE AFFECTING BODY &

MIND¨ WHEN DISEASE PROGRESSES SUFFERER EXPERIENCES CHANGES IN

PERSONALITY & DECLINES IN INTELLECT, MEMORY, SPEECH, & JUDGEMENT. DEMENTIA DEVELOPS IN LATER STAGES

¨ GENEALOGIC DOCUMENTATION HAS ESTABLISHED THE CAUSE TO BE A MONOHYBRID AUTOSOMAL GENE OF DOMINANT TYPE WITH COMPLETE PENETRANCE

¨ GROSS WASTING OF THE HEAD OF THE CAUDATE NUCLEUS & PUTAMEN BILATERALLY IS ITS CHARACTERISTIC IN THE FRONTAL & TEMPORAL LOBES

¨ FIRST SIGNS APPEAR IN CHILDHOOD, BEFORE PUBERTY BEFORE AGE 4, CAUSING RIGID FORMS OF THE DISEASE & SEIZURES

¨ SUFFERERS BEGIN TO FIND FAULT & COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING,THEY MAY BE SUSPICIOUS, IRRITABLE, IMPULSIVE, ECCENTRIC, OR EXCESSIVELY RELIGIOUS

¨ MEMORY & ATTENTIVENESS ARE LOST FIRST,THEN TEMPER¨ HEREDITARY DEGENERATIVE BRAIN DISEASE BEGINNING AGE 40-50¨ RESEARCH:4 TO 5 MILLION ARE MALES,OLDER PATEINTS INHERIT FROM

MOTHERS AND YOUNGER PATIENTS FROM FATHERS¨ NOT MANY DRUGS ON MARKET ARE HELPFUL, LEVODOPA MAKES CHOREA

WORSE. CHOREA MEANS INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENTS

PARKINSON’S DISEASE ¨ NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER WHERE CERTAIN BRAIN CELLS

THAT CONTROL MUSCLES DEGENERATE, CAUSING TREMOR, STIFFNESS, SHUFFLING WALK & PROBLEMS WITH BALANCE

¨ TREMORS GET WORSE WITH STRESS DUE TO LOW DOPAMINE LEVELS, SUFFERER FINDS IT HARD TO MOVE FORWARD

¨ LATE STAGES: MEANINGLESSNESS, LETHARGY,DEPRESSION, ADULT ATTENTION DEFICIT, COMBATIVENESS & SOCIAL WITHDRAWL

¨ DEFICIENCY OF THE NEUROTRANSMITTER CALLED DOPAMINE

¨ POSSIBLE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS, OXIDATIVE STRESS OCCUR IN AGES UNDER 50

¨ GENETICS PLAY A BIG ROLE¨ RESEARCH: DEVELOPING MANY DIFFERENT THERAPEUTIC

STRATEGIES TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LEVODOPA & SURGICAL TECHNIQUES

PICK’S DISEASE¨ FIRST SYMPTOMS ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL & BEHAVIORAL

PROBLEMS¨ CHANGE IN CHARACTER,SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, DIMINISHED

DRIVE, & EXPRESSION VACANT¨ EARLY STAGES: SUFFERER BECOMES OBSESSIVE,

INSISTING THAT EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY NEAT & IN ORDER, REPEATEDLY WASHING OF HANDS, & OBSERVING LITTLE RITUALS EACH TIME A CERTAIN TASK IS CARRIED OUT

¨ TALKS JARGON, CAN’T DISCRIBE THE OBJECT¨ FRONTAL LOBE DEMENTIA LIKE ALZHEIMER’S¨ DEMENTIA CAUSES IRREVERSIBLE DECLINE, SOME

PROBLEMS START AT A YOUNGER AGE¨ SOME PROBLEMS CAN BE TREATED BY MEDICATIONS TO

REDUCE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS¨ RESEARCH: HARD TO DIAGNOSE THIS DISEASE UNTIL

AFTER DEATH BY POST MORTEM EXAMINATION

SCHIZOPHRENIA¨ CHRONIC, SEVERE, & DISABLING BRAIN DISEASE, AFFECTS

BOTH MEN & WOMEN, OFTEN EARLIER IN MEN – LATE TEENS OR EARLY 20’S, WOMEN AFFECTED IN 20’S OR EARLY 30’S.

¨ OFTEN SUFFER TERRIFYING SYMPTOMS: HEARING OF INTERNAL VOICES, BELIEVING THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE READING THEIR MINDS & CONTROLLING THEIR THOUGHTS OR PLOTTING TO HARM THEM, THIS MAKES THEM FEARFUL, & WITHDRAWN, SPEECH & BEHAVIOR DISORGANIZED, FRIGHTENING TO OTHERS

¨ DIAGNOSIS: RULE OUT OTHER ILLNESSES¨ ABUSE OF OTHER DRUGS CAUSE SYMPTOMS¨ VIOLENT CRIMES ARE MOSTLY COMMITTED BY SUFFERERS

WHO HAVE PARANOID & PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS¨ SCHIZOPHRENIA RUNS IN FAMILIES, AND RESEARCHERS

STUDY GENETIC FACTORS SUCH AS PRENATAL COMPLICATIONS

¨ ANTI-PSYCOTIC DRUGS AVAILABLE SINCE MID 1950’S MAKE A GOOD OUTLOOK FOR THESE SUFFERERS.