Krzysztof Jodzio

Neuropsychology of later lifeng
Contemporary debate on human aging is intensive and multifaceted in nature because of agerelated transformation in many contemporary societies, i.e. a rapid increase of mean life expectancy (increasing numbers of healthy old people). The aim of this article is to discuss changes in brain and behavior that occur in later life. Life-span developmental neuropsychology emphasizes a close relationship between cognitive problems in later life and age-related loss of large neurons in some parts of the brain. Large neurons shrink into smaller neuron classes. The most pronounced atrophic changes have been reported in the prefrontal area, hippocampus, ubstantianigra and locus cinereus. This article presents also common clinical conditions of later life, such as differential diagnosis of age-associated behavioral changes and dementias. There may be multiple causes of neurogeriatric disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. There has been considerable interest in the possible causative role of cognitive and brain reserve which differs among individuals. Therefore between-individual heterogeneity related to normal cognitive aging is signifi cant. Namely, if cerebral pathology occurs (e.g., neurodegeneration with dementia), persons with a greater reserve may not demonstrate the same cognitive impact as others with the same pathology (e.g. lesion size) but less reserve. It is also widely believed that mental difficulties in lder adults cannot be easily attributed to psychomotor slowness which may reflect a loss of white matter tissue, i.e. dysmielinisation of nerve fibers. This article emphasizes an importance of ecologically valid assessment of older adults, whose everyday activities and real--world abilities cannot be predicted by the traditional tests and sophisticated procedures emerging from purely experimental investigations.

The Specificity of Functioning of the Multiple Sclerosis Patient’s Families in The Olson  Circumplex Model

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the typical features of functioning of a family with the multiple sclerosis patient as perceived by the patient and his/her spouse, as well as to identify the supposed psychosocial problems experienced by the patients and their loved ones, including the children. The presented research involved 216 people (108 families) who were divided into three groups: a criterial group (CG) and two comparative groups. Family functioning was assessed using the David Olson Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-IV).

In the light of the performed study particularly difficult has proved to be the situation of the adult children / grown children whose parents were suffering from MS. Their families were characterized by strong emotional bonding, over-identification, high dependence and mutual loyalty (family systems strongly intertwined with each other). Excessive concentration on the family seems to be unfavorable for children with multiple sclerosis parents. While high cohesion in certain circumstances may be  adaptive, it may pose a threat to the development of the children’s autonomy and delay their entering adulthood.