BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY: BRAIN DISORDERS

Brain Disorders: Conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's

Ever wonder how certain disorders of the brain completely change one's personality or even his or her abilities in remembering or physical ways? Some of the most notorious, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, give a tiny little view into the complexity involved within neurological health.

In this article, we go back to the roots of these conditions: their causes, symptoms, and the toll they take on their people. Whether one becomes curious in the way a person's brain works by virtue or necessity, or someone they care about needs information regarding conditions like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, this booklet walks them through the explanation in understandable terms, step by step.

What Are Brain Disorders?

Brain disorders are conditions that, in general impair brain structure, function, or chemistry. They may produce disturbances in cognition, feelings, movement, and total comportment. Generally, they are caused by genetic causes, environmental triggers, aging, infection, and injury.

Other disorders basically affect movement and mood. Neurodegenerative diseases can be further divided into most common types, which include Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Alzheimer's Disease: The Silent Thief of Memory

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder that initially involves memory, thinking, and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults worldwide.

What Causes Alzheimer's?

The actual cause of Alzheimer's is not yet known, but it's said to be contributed by many factors including:

• Amyloid Plaques: The deposition between brain cells of sticky clumps of protein fragments called amyloid beta blocks communication.
• Tau Tangles: The tau proteins inside neurons get tangled; hence, the flow of nutrition is disrupted.
• Genetics: Some genes, especially APOE-e4, are responsible for causing a predisposition towards the disease.
• Lifestyle and Environment: Poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyle amongst other factors add to increasing one's risk.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's progresses through stages:

• Early Stage: Forgetting recent conversations or appointments, mislaying things.
• Middle Stage: Trouble recognizing family and friends, confusion and mood swings.
• Late Stage: Pervasive memory loss and inability to communicate, loss of independence.

Impact on Behavior

As Alzheimer's advances, it does more than affect the memory:

• Changes in Mood: Anxiety and depression and even aggression may well result.
• Routine Tasks: Patients experience an inability in performing everyday chores such as cooking or dealing with the finances.
• Loss of Spatial Awareness: One gets lost even in familiar surroundings.

Parkinson's Disease: A Movement Disorder

What is Parkinson's?

Parkinson is a bad neurodegenerative illness with progressive disorders in movements and coordination. It has been characterized by the loss of neurons creating dopamine within a part of the brain known as the substantia nigra.

What Causes Parkinson's?

However, the Parkinson's disease does not result from a specific cause in everyone, hereby is a descriptive review of some of the contributing factors.

• Genetic: The mutation in the LRRK2 and SNCA gene are linked to Parkinson's.
• Environmental Triggers: There is an increased risk owing to exposure to pesticides and heavy metals.
• Aging: It increases with age owing to the reduction of natural dopamine production.

Symptoms of Parkinson's

Parkinson's Disease often appear subtly and develop gradually over time.

• Tremors: Shaking in hands, arms, or legs, often at rest.
• Bradykinesia: Slowness of movement, which may make everyday tasks difficult.
• Rigidity: Stiff muscles that may be painful to move.
• Postural Instability: Imbalance that may cause falls.
• Non-Motor Symptoms: Depression, sleep disturbance, and memory impairment.

Impact on Behavior

Parkinson's is not a pure motor disorder. A number of emotional and mental effects of the disease are noted, including the following:

• Changes in Mood: Depression and anxiety
• Cognitive Impairment: Some patients experience memory loss or an inability to concentrate
• Social Withdrawal: The difficulty of physical mobility leads to isolation or a complete withdrawal from social life

Other Neurodegenerative Disorders to Know

While the above, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's respectively, are quite well known, other brain disorders that follow in the league of noticeable ones include:

Epilepsy

• What It Is: A disorder that involves recurring seizures consequent to abnormal electrical activities in the brain.
• Behavioral Impact: Memory gaps, confusion, or mood swings following the seizure events.

Stroke

• What It Is: An event where there is a sudden loss of blood supply in the brain owing to partial or total destruction.
• Behavioral Effects: Paralysis, speech problem, mood swings, behavioral problems.

Multiple Sclerosis

• What It Is: An autoimmune disorder wherein immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves.
• Behavioral Effects: Fatigue, mood swings and cognitive impairment.

Treatments And Coping Strategies for Brain Disorders

Although most brain disorders have no cure, the treatments can reduce the rate of progression and improve the quality of life.

Medications

• Alzheimer's: Symptom-modulating drugs include donepezil and memantine.
• Parkinson's: Levodopa is considered the gold standard to restore dopamine.

Lifestyle Changes

• Healthy Hygiene: Diets of the Mediterranean with a high content of antioxidants may reduce the risk.
• Exercise: Regular exercise slows the worsening of symptoms; it enhances the health of the brain.

Therapies

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Assists mood swings and anxiety.
• Physical Therapy: The mobility and muscle tone of a patient with Parkinson's disease. improve.

Supportive Services

Though living with a brain disorder is always distressing, support groups, counseling and education inspire patients and caregivers.

Prevention and Brain Health Tips

Want to lower the risk for brain disorders? Following are a few scientific tips:

• Stay Active: Exercising allows the increase in blood to go up in the brain. It's just one of the prime spots that helps to reduce Alzheimer's and stroke
• Eat Brain Boosting Foods: Add in food into your diet that includes high content of omega-3 fatty acids, leafy veggies, and berries
• Brain Aerobics: A challenging activity or process, doing a puzzle, reading new stuff, building new skills sharpens the glass down to the brain.
• Stress Management: Stress will increase the levels of cortisol and may actually destroy your memory and cognitive function in the long term.
• Regular Check-ups: These aid in the early detection of various conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, which actually destroy the brain.

Conclusion: Protection of the Brain towards a Brighter Future

Diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are just among the numerous examples of how fragile and so fine the brain can get. In the same way that those diseases pose a problem, new research and treatments, changing lifestyles also give hope to patients and their families alike.

Brain health, coupled with being proactive and well-informed, probably reduces risk and manages symptoms to help boost overall well-being. Keep your brain in the pink-it is your lifetime command center!