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Neuropsychology of Ageing and Dementia

Module description

With age comes wisdom. But living longer doesn’t always mean living better. In 2017, the World Health Organisation estimated that there were 50 million people living with dementia globally; 1 million in the UK. The impact of dementia extends beyond the person to be felt also by the family, friends and wider community. There are currently no medical treatments available to cure these conditions. One-third of cases of Alzheimer’s disease, however, are thought to arise from modifiable factors such as obesity, smoking, depression and limited educational opportunities in earlier life. Consequently, there is great need to understand and extend our knowledge of both “normal ageing” and pathological changes.

Neuropsychology is the study of brain-behaviour relationships. By understanding how the diseases underlying dementia affect the brain , and cause clinical syndromes, we can develop therapeutic assistance. Through this module, you will gain a thorough grounding in the neuropsychological approach to dementia, including knowledge of the clinical profiles of different types of dementia, tests used to diagnose dementia, and the current best practices to manage these conditions. The latest research findings will also be explored and critically evaluated, including work recently undertaken within the University of Exeter’s Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health (REACH - https://psychology.exeter.ac.uk/reach/) - a team who are engaged in cutting-edge research in this field.

This module provides a key starting point for anyone considering a future working as a psychological practitioner or working with older people who have dementia.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to enable you to develop and apply clinically related skills of identifying and managing different forms of dementia. You will develop important skills in observing behaviour, assessing different forms of cognition, integrating patient history with clinical profiles, and critically appraising the literature.

 Through attending the weekly seminars and completing the assessments, you will further develop the following academic and professional skills that will be transferable to future employment:

• problem solving (linking theory to practice, developing your own ideas with confidence, being able to respond to novel and unfamiliar problems)
• managing structure (identifying key demands of the task, setting clearly defined goals, responding flexibly to changing priorities)
• time management (managing time effectively individually and within a group)
• collaboration (respecting the views and values of others, taking initiative and leading others, supporting others in their work, maintaining group cohesiveness and purpose), and
• audience awareness (presenting ideas effectively in multiple formats, persuading others of the importance and relevance of your views, responding positively and effectively to questions).

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a psychological practitioner in the NHS or a career in clinical neuropsychology, the seminar will assist in developing skills for postgraduate study. The seminar will give you direct experience with specific neuropsychological tests used by clinicians, as well as insight into current issues. Content for the module will include research-led teaching by the module convenor and, where available, other members of the Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health (REACH) team. This will ensure the most up-to-date information is available regarding intervention strategies for both Alzheimer’s and non-Alzheimer’s dementias, as well as approaches to assist carers.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Describe the clinical profiles of common forms of dementia, and identify the key differences between major types
• 2. Explain how to conduct a neuropsychological assessment to assist in determining a dementia diagnosis
• 3. Evaluate the methodological quality of current research regarding interventions for dementia
• 4. Demonstrate emerging clinical skills by applying knowledge of criteria for dementia subtypes when considering case examples

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Acquire detailed, systematic and comprehensive knowledge within the discipline, with in-depth specialisation at the forefront of the discipline in certain areas, and demonstrate advanced critical understanding of this knowledge and of the limits and provisional nature of this knowledge
• 6. Review and critically evaluate published work at an advanced level and identify the strengths and weaknesses of this work, and at an advanced level structure this literature to present logical, coherent and sustained arguments to support conclusions at an advanced level
• 7. Address systematically complex problems at an advanced level which may be framed within unpredictable contexts, think critically, creatively and independently, and fully appreciate the complexities of the issues
• 8. Understand and apply essential principles in designing novel research, and critically evaluate and analyse empirical evidence, and assess the reliability of empirical evidence using a range of defined techniques at an advanced level
• 9. Illustrate the wider ethical issues relating to the subject and its application at an advanced level

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 10. Interact effectively and supportively within a learning group
• 11. Manage your own learning using the full range of resources of the discipline and with minimum guidance
• 12. Engage effectively in debate in a professional manner and produce detailed and coherent written work
• 13. Identify with confidence and flexibility complex problems and apply appropriate knowledge and methods for their solution

Syllabus plan

The module consists of a seminar series based around the following topics:

• Healthy ageing vs disease
• Introduction to neuropsychological principles
• Approach to neuropsychological assessment
• Diagnostic criteria for major forms of dementia
• Clinical profiles and progression of dementia syndromes over time
• Intervention strategies in dementia
• Current areas of research development

The order in which these seminars is delivered may vary, according to availability of speakers.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Two assessments are required for this module. Where you have been referred/deferred in the examination you will have the opportunity to take a second examination in the August/September re-assessment period. Where you have been referred/deferred in the coursework you will be required to resubmit the coursework. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%; deferrals are not capped.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• The behavioral neurology of dementia / edited by Bruce L. Miller, Bradley F. Boeve, Second edition, Cambridge University Press, 2017

Persistent link to this record: https://encore.exeter.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3512047

Additional suggested reference texts:

•  Neuropsychological assessment, Muriel Deutsch Lezak, Diane B. Howieson, Erin D. Bigler, Daniel Tranel, Fifth edition, Oxford University Press, 2012
• Persistent link to this record: https://encore.exeter.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb4417724

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6655
• The following guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are highly relevant, and are available online at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng97
• Alzheimer’s Society: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/
• Alzheimer Research UK: http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/home/

Key words search

Psychology, neuropsychology, dementia, ageing, clinical psychology