Question

Mrs. Jones has had a progressive decline in her mental capabilities in the past five or six years. At first, her family attributed her occasional memory lapse, confusion, and agitation to grief over her husband's death six years earlier. When examined, Mrs. Jones was aware of her cognitive problems and was shown to have an IQ score of approximately 30 points lower than would be predicted by her work history. A CT scan showed diffuse cerebral atrophy. The physician prescribed medication for Mrs. Jones. The post must be at least 250 words in length.

1. What is Mrs. Jones's problem?

2. Is there anything else that you can recommend to the patient and family member?

3. The family member is asking about the patient's outcome. What is your response?

Answer 1

1. Atrophy is a term used to denote a decrease in the size of cells, most probably due to loss of cytoplasmic proteins. In brain tissues, atrophy describes a loss of neurons and the connections between them. It is a progressive disorder, which means, it gets worse with time.

If the connection between the neurons of the brain cell will be disturbed then the flow of impulses will be hampered and the functioning of the brain will be affected. This manifests as loss of memory, seizures and problems in control and coordination. So, as the CT scan shows, Mrs Jones is suffering from cerebral atrophy which will, most probably, worsen with age.

2. The patient should be treated with a lot of understanding and care. Most of the time, family members get impatient with people suffering from such nerve diseases. There is no cure for cerebral atrophy but the damage can be slowed down with diet and breathing exercises. Yoga and meditation might help to improve control over small physical activities. So, the family members should try to be understanding and caring and help Mrs. Jones gain confidence and maintain her self respect and dignity in day to day activities.

3. Since brain atrophy is the progressive loss or damage of brain cells, there is no treatment available to cure this complication. So, the family members should be prepared for a worsening of the patient's condition as she ages. However, there are options to slow down the damage and improve physical ability with proper diet and exercises so that it is easier for the family members to care for her.