The woman misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's, and how we can all be affected by the suggestion that we have psychological problems
By - - RESEARCH DIGEST - BLOGGING ON BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
Added: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:11:06 UTC
Psychologists in the Netherlands have documented the case of a 58-year-old woman who was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. The would-be patient consulted a neurologist at a stressful time in her life, in the knowledge that her mother had had the illness. A brain scan indicated reduced activity at the front of her brain ("hypofrontality"), and the neurologist also estimated her performance on a test of cognitive impairment as poor (though no formal test was conducted). On this basis he diagnosed Alzheimer's*.
The woman was devastated and thereafter her condition deteriorated significantly, to the point that she was permanently confused and, at one point, suicidal. Some months later, after receiving advice from an Alzheimer's helpline, the woman consulted a different neurologist for a second opinion. She completed comprehensive memory tests and undertook a further brain scan. All results were normal. This neurologist surmised that her earlier hypofrontality was associated with depression. He also went to great lengths to explain the good news about her results and the misinterpretation of her earlier scan, but it proved extremely difficult to assuage her concerns.
Read more
Tweet
RELATED CONTENT
A Mathematical Challenge to Obesity
CLAUDIA DREIFUS - New York Times 15 Comments
Carson C. Chow deploys mathematics to solve the everyday problems of real life. As an investigator at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, he tries to figure out why 1 in 3 Americans are obese.
Cocaine decreases activity of a protein...
- - MedicalXpress 27 Comments
Cocaine decreases activity of a protein necessary for normal functioning of the brain's reward system
Neurons Mirror the Diametric Mind
Christopher Badcock, Ph.D -... 3 Comments
Neurons Mirror the Diametric Mind
Schizophrenics amplify neuronal mirroring, autistics reduce it
How thinking about death can lead to a...
- - MedicalXpress 11 Comments
How thinking about death can lead to a good life
Thinking about death can actually be a good thing. An awareness of mortality can improve physical health and help us re-prioritize our goals and values, according to a new analysis of recent scientific studies. Even non-conscious thinking about death – say walking by a cemetery – could prompt positive changes and promote helping others.
Brain Controls Paralyzed Muscles
Ed Yong - TheScientist 11 Comments
A new system decodes brain signals from the motor cortex of monkeys and translates them into basic arm movements, despite temporary paralysis.
Megan Scudellari - The Scientist 25 Comments
Let Them Eat DirtEarly exposure to microbes shapes the mammalian immune system by subduing inflammatory T cells.
MORE BY -
Dolan: White House is “strangling”...
- - Preserve Religious Freedom -... 51 Comments
Dolan: White House is “strangling” Catholic church
'Ring of fire' eclipse to begin
- - BBC News - Science & Environment 6 Comments
An "annular eclipse" will be visible from a 240 to 300km-wide swathe of Earth stretching from Asia across the Pacific to the western US on Monday.
Scientific evidence proves why healers...
- - MedicalXpress.com 41 Comments
Researchers in Spain have found that many of the individuals claiming to see the aura of people actually present the neuropsychological phenomenon known as "synesthesia".
How much water is there on, in, and...
- - USGS Water Science for Schools 26 Comments
"We Believe" Todd Stiefel speaking at...
- - YouTube - ScottBurdickArt 15 Comments
"We Believe" Todd Stiefel speaking at the Reason Rally



Atheism in America















Comments
Comment RSS Feed
Please sign in or register to comment
View Comments Page