Neurocognitive Disorders

by | Jan 12, 2025 | biology

 

Neurocognitive disorders can be very devastating for both the patient and their family members.
•Compare two types of neurocognitive disorders and include disease trajectory and any scale/measure to identify worsening disease.
•Give one pharmacologic treatment and one nonpharmacologic treatment for the disorders.

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

1. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

  • Disease Trajectory:

    • Insidious Onset: AD typically has a gradual onset with subtle cognitive decline initially.  
    • Progressive Decline: Cognitive decline progressively worsens over time, impacting memory, language, thinking, and behavior.  
    • Stages:
      • Early: Mild memory lapses, difficulty with multitasking.  
      • Middle: Increasing memory problems, confusion, difficulty with daily tasks.  
      • Late: Severe cognitive impairment, loss of independence, difficulty with communication and self-care.  

  • Scale/Measure:

    • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE): A widely used screening tool to assess cognitive function, including orientation, memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills.

       

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

1. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

  • Disease Trajectory:

    • Insidious Onset: AD typically has a gradual onset with subtle cognitive decline initially.  
    • Progressive Decline: Cognitive decline progressively worsens over time, impacting memory, language, thinking, and behavior.  
    • Stages:
      • Early: Mild memory lapses, difficulty with multitasking.  
      • Middle: Increasing memory problems, confusion, difficulty with daily tasks.  
      • Late: Severe cognitive impairment, loss of independence, difficulty with communication and self-care.  

  • Scale/Measure:

    • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE): A widely used screening tool to assess cognitive function, including orientation, memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills.

       

  • Pharmacologic Treatment:

    • Cholinesterase inhibitors: (e.g., donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) These drugs slow the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter important for memory and learning.  

  • Non-pharmacologic Treatment:

    • Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST): Involves structured activities designed to enhance cognitive function, such as memory exercises, puzzles, and social interaction.  

2. Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD)

  • Disease Trajectory:

    • Motor Symptoms First: Parkinson’s disease typically begins with motor symptoms like tremor, rigidity, and slow movement.  
    • Cognitive Decline Later: Cognitive decline often develops later in the course of the disease.
    • Cognitive Impairment: Cognitive symptoms can include slowness of thought, impaired attention, memory difficulties, and visuospatial problems.  

  • Scale/Measure:

    • Movement Disorders Society – Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS): This comprehensive scale assesses various aspects of Parkinson’s disease, including motor symptoms, cognitive function, and behavior.  

  • Pharmacologic Treatment:

    • Dopamine Agonists: (e.g., levodopa, carbidopa) These medications help replenish dopamine levels in the brain, which are depleted in Parkinson’s disease.  

  • Non-pharmacologic Treatment:

    • Speech and Language Therapy: Can help address communication difficulties, such as slowed speech and difficulty finding words.  

Important Notes:

  • Disease progression varies greatly among individuals.  
  • Treatment aims to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
  • A comprehensive assessment by a neurologist or geriatrician is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning.  

Disclaimer: This information is for general knowledge and discussion purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

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