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EDITORIAL |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 16
| Issue : 3 | Page : 306 |
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Neuropsychological aspects of clinical neurology: A glimpse of two universes in brain
Ravi Prakash
Department of Physiology, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, India
| Date of Web Publication | 26-Aug-2013 |
Correspondence Address:
Ravi Prakash
#15; 15-C Cross, Muthyalanagar, Mathikere, Bangalore-560054
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0972-2327.116899
How to cite this article:
Prakash R. Neuropsychological aspects of clinical neurology: A glimpse of two universes in brain. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2013;16:306 |
Writing this editorial gives me the opportunity to witness and address the integration of two amazingly diverse dimensions of the brain which are yet so interconnected that they are inseparable at multiple levels of neural organization. It is a unique experience to see that some neural structures of the brain are responsible for a variety of functions which include an array of cognitive as well as neurological signs and symptoms found in various neurological disorders. Cognition is the ability of the brain to process information in various forms. These include several functions like memory, executive functions, language and other cognitive functions like visuoperceptive functions and consciousness. Neurological disorders on the other hand comprise of a wide range of conditions involving lesions of brain structures. However, it is important to understand that neuropsychological impairments are integral parts of almost all the neurological disorders. On the other hand, every neuropsychological impairment is an outcome of a neuropathology and thus a neurological disorder in itself. This fact is further from the basic observation that that cognitive neuroscience has neurological foundations. [1]
This integration is much more needed from a patient's perspective than from the academic perspective. There are several issues related to etiology, diagnosis and therapy of neurological disorders, which can be better understood if both these domains of neuropsychology and clinical neurology are considered together. Especially, the diagnosis as well as treatment of chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as the dementias, and chronic motor disorders like Parkinsonism rely heavily on several specific neuropsychological functions like memory and in Alzheimer's disease and treatment of executive function deficits in Parkinsonism. However, these implications are not limited to only chronic neurodegenerative disorders but encompass every neurological disorder including the cerebrovascular disorders, epilepsies, neurogenetic disorders and structural brain diseases like tumors among several others. [2] The articles in the present miniseries tend to address these issues which ultimately aim towards painting a more integrated picture of neurological disorders taking in to account the cognitive impairments present in these disorders. These articles have covered several different neurological disorders and have got a timely recognition by this reputed journal. More similar articles are needed to further enhance our understanding of the several such universes present in none other than the most complicated structure of nature-the brain. [3],[4],[5]
 References | |  |
| 1. | Panegyres PK. The contribution of the study of neurodegenerative disorders to the understanding of human memory. QJM 2004;97:555-67. 
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| 2. | Larner AJ. Neuropsychological Neurology: The Neurocognitive Impairments of Neurological Disorders. Cambridge University Press; 2008.
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| 3. | Zhang J Jr, Shi S Sr. A literature review of AD7c-ntp as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease:Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2013;16: 307-9.
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| 4. | Yanhong O, Chandra M, Venkatesh D. Mild cognitive impairment in adult: A neuropsychological review:Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2013;16: 310-18.
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| 5. | Di Xu, Hong-Yan Ren,, Prakash R, Vijayadas, Kumar R. Outcomes of neuropsychological interventions of stroke:Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2013;16:319-28.
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