Parkinson's disease

In this case study, we describe the symptoms, neurological examination, test results, and brain pathology of a man with Parkinson's disease (PD). PD commonly presents with tremor or changes in one's ability to walk or move. Other major difficulties caused by this disease include rigidity of the body, slowness of movement, and postural imbalance. The disease symptoms principally result from the degeneration of a specific population of neuronal cells in the brain stem, in a region called the pars compacta of the substantia nigra. Pathology shows the loss of these cells and the appearance of characteristic neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions called Lewy bodies, which are composed principally of aggregated alpha-synuclein protein.     

Brain tumor-associated dementia

In this case study, we describe a patient with a dementia due to a brain tumor. This unusual cause of dementia illustrates the importance of a thorough evaluation of anyone who experiences relatively sudden changes in cognitive functions. The disorder had features common to other dementias but also had some unusual attributes that made a diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease less likely. Common features included intellectual decline involving difficulties in word-finding, the occurrence of paraphasia, poor concentration, disorientation in familiar environments, problems performing routine complex tasks, and elements of social withdrawal. Unlike more common degenerative dementias, however, there was no marked memory involvement. In addition, the onset of illness was rapid and associated with headaches, incontinence, and some gait and motor dysfunction.     

Alzheimer's disease

In this case study, we describe the symptoms, neuropsychological testing, and brain pathology of a man with Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD commonly presents with impairment of memory and language function. In this case, language difficulties were noted more prominently than was memory impairment. Throughout the limbic system and neocortex of the patient were large numbers of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the pathological hallmarks of AD.     

Frontotemporal dementia

In this case study, we describe the symptoms, neuropsychological testing, and brain pathology of a man with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). FTD most often presents with either a change in personality or behavior, such as social withdrawal, increased gregariousness, disinhibition, or obsessive behaviors; or with impairment of language function. Memory difficulties are common, but usually are less prominent than these other symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Frequently, psychiatric diagnoses are initially the primary consideration. Cases may be either familial or sporadic. In this familial case, an autopsy was ultimately performed and revealed findings characteristic of FTD, with grossly evident focal brain degeneration in the frontal and temporal regions, microscopic signs of gliosis, and cellular abnormalities of the intracellular microtubule-associated protein tau.     

Learning From Reform as Learning: Lessons at the Intersection of Implementation Research and Learning Theories

This article discusses how to analyze educational reforms in which information and communications technology (ICT) is used as a central catalyst to change practises. We explore the relationship between theoretical conceptualizations and empirical findings drawing on the work of Larry Cuban and Yrjö Engeström. We claim that reform research has traditionally been too preoccupied with looking for the intended changes. One problem with this “top-down” approach is that it conceals changes that happen at the microlevel. As a result, we are left with little understanding of how educational practises change in relation to ICT reform interventions at the interactional level. As an illustrative case, we draw on the analysis of a reform program that focused on the use of ICT in teacher education and show how this reform took place and examine what was interactionally accomplished across the institutions that took part.     

Dementia with cerebrovascular disease

In this case study, we review the symptoms, cognitive testing, brain imaging, and brain pathology of a woman with dementia, for whom the neuropathological findings suggest a prominent contribution of cerebrovascular disease. Vascular dementia is the term commonly used for persons with dementia resulting from strokes, either clinically evident or subclinical "silent" events. "Mixed dementia" is the term used when there is an admixture of pathological findings related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease, as in this situation. In some cases of mixed dementia, the pathological involvement of AD may be the principal contributory cause of the cognitive symptoms, and in others, the vascular changes may give the greater contribution.