Neuropsychological Sequelae of Chronic Medical Disorders in Children and Youth

Abstract

(from the chapter) Although the brain and other parts of the body are separate in terms of anatomy, they function as an integrated whole. Thus, when other organ systems are affected by a disease process, the brain in general, and cognitive functioning in particular, also may become impaired. This impairment may result from damage to brain tissue from the disease itself, or alternatively, brain dysfunction may occur as a secondary effect of a disease process elsewhere in the body. The notion of multiple interactive systems is primary to the discussion of the diseases and conditions presented in this chapter. As nothing in the human body functions in total independence, there can be no single causal mechanism. Easily acknowledged on one level, this concept is both pervasive and essential to the understanding of brain-body relationships. In this chapter, we will discuss the functioning of some the major organ systems in the body and the ways in which its malfunction may potentially impact on brain functioning. Additionally, we will attempt to pull together the comparatively little research that has been done on disease processes specific to an organ system and the neuropsychological effects that have been reported. In a number of cases, specific neuropsychological data are not available: In those instances, clinical symptomatology that implicated possible neuropsychologic dysfunction will be offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)