Modular Deficits In Alzheimer Type Dementia

Bringing models and methods of cognitive neuropsychology to bear on the study of dementing disorders, these contributions present sound evidence that diseases of the Alzheimer type compromise brain function in a highly selective manner, affecting some aspects of cognition while sparing others. Included are original case studies that explore in detail the nature of the linguistic, semantic, and visuoperceptual disorders in patients with degenerative dementias. The book pursues a number of themes with important ramifications for the study of higher mental functions. By exploring the neurocognitive modules that are the targets of degenerative processes, it shows that Alzheimer's disease is not one disease but a complex of disease states, that clinical diversity is an essential feature of Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer-type dementia, that this diversity reflects to a large extent the differential involvement of particular neural systems that support cognition, and that when suitable methods and models are applied, studies of Alzheimer-type dementia can expand our understanding of basic brain-behavior relations. Myrna F. Schwartz is Director of the Neuropsychology Research Laboratory at Moss Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia. Contributors:M. Moscovitch and C. Umilta, M. F. Schwartz, J. A. Stark, A. R. Damasio, G. W. Van Hoesen, B. T. Hyman, J. B. Chawluk, M. Grossman, J. A. Calcano-Perez, A. Alavi, H. I. Hurtig, M. Reivich, A. Martin, J. Baron, M. Moscovitch, H. Chertkow, D. Bub, E. M. Saffran, E. J. Fitzpatrick-DeSalme, H. B. Coslett.

This book describes the latest advances in our psychological understanding of Alzheimer's disease, bringing together the main experts in this field to describe recent developments. It will be valuable for people working in related disciplines, such as neurology, psychiatry and neuroscience researchers, as well as providing an introduction to the field for psychologists.

This book draws together recent develompents in cognitive affects of Alzeimer's disease - how it affects mental functions such as memory, attention, and language. As well as providing a theoretical overview, it discusses how knowledge of neuropsychological impairment can be related to theneurobiology and genetics of the disease. Also covered are the practical issues of assesment, neurorehabilitation, and treatment. This book will be of interest both to researchers in Alzheimer's, and clinicians treating people with the disease.

The National Institutes of Health - and many other organizations and individuals worldwide - are interested in the state of the science on preventing Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and age-related cognitive decline. This letter report reviews the evidence on interventions to decrease the risk of developing clinical Alzheimer's-type dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and delay or slow age-related cognitive decline. It also makes recommendations that inform public health messaging on preventative interventions and recommendations for future research.

The term "Alzheimer's disease" is currently used to refer to senile and also presenile dementia, but the heterogeneity of this disorder is demonstrated in many of its aspects. This is of great theoretical interest, and with the appearance of new therapeutic interventions, it may well also start to have very significant practical importance. To shed some light on the debate, the Fondation Ipsen organized an international symposium which took place on April 6, 1992. This volume contains the proceedings of this meeting, which was attended by researchers in epidemiology, clinical neurology and geriatrics, neuropsychology, neuropathology, molecular biology, and genetics.

The Handbook of Neurolinguistics is a state-of-the-art reference and resource book; it describes current research and theory in the many subfields of neurolinguistics and its clinical application. Thorough and clearly written, the handbook provides an excellent overview of the field of neurolinguistics and its development. The book is organized into five parts covering the history of neurolinguistics, methods in clinical and experimental neurolinguistics, experimental neurolinguistics, clinical neurolinguistics, and resources in neurolinguistics. The first four parts contain a wide range of topics which discuss all important aspects of the many subfields of neurolinguistics. Also included are the relatively new and fast developing areas of research in discourse, pragmatics, and recent neuroimaging techniques. The resources section provides currently available resources, both traditional and modern. The handbook is useful to the newcomer to the field, as well as the expert searching for the latest developments in neurolinguistics. Clearly written and well organized Provides extensive resources Discusses both history and current research Covers the many subfields of neurolinguistics as well the developing areas of research

This selection of reviews gives an up-to-date picture of memory research. Great progress has been made in identifying the memory trace at the molecular and cellular level and individual reviews address the major mechanisms by which changes in synaptic strength can persist. Exciting research at the systems level is also reviewed including the growing importance of changes in inhibitory interneurons and how they play a role in memory formation. Finally, reviews present cognitive and neurobiological models of human memory that explain, characterize and organize the act of memory within a coherent framework. * Provides an unique overview that covers all perspectives and methodological approaches to memory * Broad coverage of memory research from molecular to human studies in one source * Up-to-date reviews give the latest important ideas on memory formation

Any mention of the relationship, still poorly understood, between body (or brain) and mind invariably invokes the name of Descartes, who is often thought of as the father of modern philosophy and perhaps of neurophilosophy. Although a native of the heart of France (the region around Tours), Rene Descartes travelled widely, as everyone knows, especially to Holland and Sweden. It should come as no surprise, that the Congress of Neurophilosophy and Alzheimer's Disease was the first in the series of Fondation Ipsen Colloques Medecine et Recherche to be held outside France. The meeting was held in San Diego (California) on January 11, 1991. This venue was chosen for a number of reasons. The University of California San Diego is without doubt one of the most dynamic universities today. A good number of friends of the Fondation Ipsen who have taken part as speakers in previous conferences are based there. Patricia Churchland, whose publications have helped "launch" the term "neurophilosophy", also teaches there. The choice of this particular venue gave us the welcome opportunity of benefiting directly during the conference from the participation of many eminent (including some Nobel Prize-winning) scientists, including biochemists, neuro scientists and "alzheimerologist", psychologists, cognitive science specialists and philosophers.