Advances in neurology and neuropsychology: neurodegenerative diseases

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes: constitute one of the fundamental vehicles for transmitting knowledge to students, clarifying their difficulties and doubts, as well as promoting and guiding them towards the use of resources that allow expanding the contents developed in the classes. At the beginning of each class, the objectives to be covered will be briefly discussed, also presenting a general outline of the contents to be developed, as well as the basic bibliography.
Practical classes: they will allow the student to know and discuss the applications of the knowledge acquired in theoretical classes.

Learning Outcomes

• Study the concept of normal and pathological brain aging.
• Know the early neuropsychological markers in the detection of neurodegenerative diseases.
• Know the risk and protective factors for dementias.
• Know the implications of genetic alterations in the current classifications and types of degenerative dementias.
• Understand the etiopathogenic mechanisms of motor neuron degeneration, the techniques for its diagnosis and advances in treatment.
• Study current concepts about the brain bases of higher mental functions.  

Transversal:
• Capacity for analysis and synthesis.
• Ability to search and analyze information from different sources.
• Critical and self-critical capacity. 

Competences to be acquired in theoretical and practical classes:
• Mastery of the theoretical notions included in the programs of each subject.
• Ability to offer appropriate definitions of the concepts and terms specific to each subject. Ability to compare and evaluate alternative definitions.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

• Ethiopathogenesis of neurodegeneration: general concepts.
• Etiopathogenesis of neurodegeneration: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lewy body disease, frontal dementia, prion, taupathies and ubiquinopathies.
• Cognitive alterations in neurodegenerative diseases.
• Diagnosis of the main neurodegenerative diseases.
• Treatment of neurodegenerative diseases: preventive measures.
• Updating the neuropharmacological treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
• Neuropsychology of normal brain aging.
• Risk factors and protective factors.
• Detection of early diagnostic neuropsychol.ogical markers.
• Neuropsychological exploration techniques in neurodegenerative diseases.
• General notions of neuropsychological interventions.
• Bio-psycho-social bases of non-pharmacological therapies.
• Classic techniques of cognitive interventions in dementias.
• Cognitive intervention techniques in dementias with mild and mild-moderate severity.
• Non-pharmacological therapies.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Other: 40.0%
Resolution Problems: 60.0%

Bibliography

Alberca, R, López Pousa,S. (2010). Enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias. Editorial Médica Panamericana. 4ª Ed. Madrid.
Ballesteros, S. (2004). Gerontología: Un saber multidisciplinar. S. Ballesteros (Ed.). Universitas-UNED. Madrid.
Blennow K, de Leon MJ, Zetterberg H. Alzheimer’s disease Lancet 2006; 368: 387–403.
Bonuccelli U, Del Dotto P. New pharmacologic horizons in the treatment of Parkinson disease. Neurology 2006; 67(7) Suppl 2, pp S30-S38.
Gauthier. S. Clinical, diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease (2007). Ed. Serge Gauthier.
Gil, R. (2020). Manual de Neuropsicología. Barcelona: Masson.
Grieve, J. (2001). Neuropsicología para terapeutas ocupacionales. Evaluación de la Percepción y la Cognición. Madrid: Médica Panamericana.
Guyton, A. C. (1989). Anatomía y Fisiología del Sistema Nervioso. Neurociencias Básicas. Buenos Aires: Editorial Médica Panamericana.
Haines, D.E. (2003). Principios de Neurociencia. Madrid: Elsevier Science.