WHAT IS A CORTIAL DEMENTIA
What is dementia?
Dementia is a name given for a group of disorders characterized by loss of cognitive function, mental confusion, disorientation, memory problems, misperception and sometimes behavioral problems.
Each disorder has its own unique features, but the common factor amongst the dementia is that the brain cells start dying quicker than normal.
WHAT IS CORTICAL DEMENTIA?
The dementia that damages the cerebral cortex that is often referred as the grey matter of the brain is termed as cortical dementia.
WHAT IS CEREBRAL CORTEX?
As we know, the brain is a fatty organ with the consistency of a jelly. It is housed in a hard bony casing called the skull. It contains million cells that are served by an enormous blood supply which constantly provides oxygen and nutrients.
The cerebral cortex is the highest functioning area of the brain. It forms the covering of the brain with highly packed nerve cells and does the vital function of receiving and sending nerve signals throughout the body.
It contains four lobes and different parts of the cortex have specific responsibility for problem solving, vision and language. The type of difficulties faced by an individual will depend on the area that has lost its cells.
4 large areas or lobes of the cerebral cortex and their functions
The brain is divided into two hemispheres, the left and right hemispheres. Each of these hemispheres controls different skills.
The FRONTAL LOBE is situated at the front of the brain and is responsible for problem solving, personality and motivation. It receives the information from the other parts of the brain and uses this information to make sensible decisions. So it is responsible for the efficient executive functioning.
Its damage can lead to changes in personality, mood and insight. It is the bit of brain that differentiates the appropriate form inappropriate. So it stops us from saying or doing things that are socially inappropriate.
The TEMPORAL LOBE is situated in the bottom section of the cortex. It is important for interpreting sounds, language and vision. The left side is responsible for verbal skills and the right for visual. Hippocampus, the area responsible for memory is also found here.
The damage of temporal lobe can lead to the problem with speech, language, and memory.
The PERIETAL LOBE takes seat in the middle of the cortex. It is associated with spatial awareness, movement, speech, visual perception, recognition and processing sensory information that touch, pain and pressure.
Damage to the parietal lobe is associated with naming things and language. The patient faces difficulty in drawing, making things and doing personal care activities.
The OCCIPITAL LOBE takes seat at the back side of the brain. It is associated with the visual function.
Damage to occipital lobe can cause visual problems like inability to identify colors, difficulty recognizing objects, words and sensing movement. It can also result in visual hallucinations.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CORTICAL DEMENTIA?
There could be various reasons for this condition. Some are listed below:
- Trauma
- Tumors
- Autoimmune disorders
- Infections
- Chronic diseases
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CORTICAL DEMENTIA?
Again, the symptoms of cortical dementia depend on the area affected that has been described previously.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CORTICAL DEMENTIA?
There are several types of dementia. But I am listing two of the most commonly found types of it:
- Alzheimer’s Disease –It is a neurodegenerative disorder in which the neurons of the brain are damaged at a widespread level and lose the ability of receiving and sending signals.
- Frontotemporal dementia – In this condition, the neurons of frontal and temporal lobe of the brain are damaged primarily. It is also sometimes called as Pick’s disease.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT OF CORTICAL DEMENTIA?
Currently, there is no treatment for cortical dementia.