Memory Dysfunction
The new england journal of medicine review article current concepts Memory Dysfunction Andrew E. Budson, M.D., and Bruce H. Price, M.D. From the Geriatric Research Education emory function is vulnerable to a variety of pathologic Clinical Center, Edith Nourse Rogers Me- processes including neurodegenerative diseases, strokes, tumors, head trau- morial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, Mass., m ma, hypoxia, cardiac surgery, malnutrition, attention-deficit disorder, de- the Department of Neurology, Boston Uni- 1,2 versity, Boston, and the Department of pression, anxiety, the side effects of medication, and normal aging. As such, memory Neurology, Division of Cognitive and Be- impairment is commonly seen by physicians in multiple disciplines including neurol- havioral Neurology, Brigham and Wom- en’s Hospital, Boston (A.E.B.); and Har- ogy, psychiatry, medicine, and surgery. Memory loss is often the most disabling feature vard Medical School, Boston, and McLean of many disorders, impairing the normal daily activities of the patients and profoundly Hospital, Belmont, Mass. (B.H.P.). Address affecting their families. reprint requests to Dr. Budson at GRECC, Bldg. 62, Rm. B30, Edith Nourse Rogers Some perceptions about memory, such as the concepts of “short-term” and “long- Memorial Veterans Hospital, 200 Springs term,” have given way to a more refined understanding and improved classification Rd., Bedford, MA 01730, or at abudson@ systems. These changes result from neuropsychological studies of patients with focal partners.org. brain lesions, neuroanatomical studies in humans and animals, experiments in animals, N Engl J Med 2005;352:692-9. positron-emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and event- Copyright © 2005 Massachusetts Medical Society.
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