ABSTRACT
The paper presents original study results of cognitive changes associated with aging in the absence of neurodegenerative, vascular and other significant for cognition disorders in period from 50 to 85 years. It was shown that aging is associated with moderate memory decrease predominantly because of retrieval deficit but not acquisition insufficiency. It was also shown that aging is associated with non-severe executive dysfunction (lack of planning and control). According usual neuropsychological approaches pattern of cognitive changes described above reflects anterior cortical dysfunction or/and impaired interaction between frontal lobes and subcortical basal ganglia. Shows what physiological changes occur with age in the field of memory and executive functions, which is of great clinical importance for the differential diagnosis of normal aging and early stages of common in the elderly cerebral diseases.
Subject(s)
Aging/physiology , Cognition Disorders/physiopathology , Cognition/physiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cognition Disorders/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , Executive Function/physiology , Humans , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological TestsABSTRACT
Chronic cerebral circulatory insufficiency (CCCI) is a result of cerebral microangiopathy, most commonly due to uncontrolled hypertension. In this case, the brain is affected due to recurrent silent infarcts and/or microbleedings without clinical manifestations of stroke and chronic brain ischemia. Progressive cognitive impairments with a preponderance of inadequate attention and lower rates of cognitive performance, with impaired planning and control abilities in relative preservation of memory serve as the main manifestation of chronic progressive non-stroke vascular lesion in the brain. The above impairments are generally associated with emotional changes as affective lability and depression. The paper gives an account of a characteristic clinical case of CCCI, analyzes the mechanisms for the development of neurological symptoms, and sets forth current approaches to managing these patients.