Topography, extent, and clinical relevance of neurochemical deficits in dementia of Lewy body type, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease

Cholinergic and monoaminergic (dopaminergic and serotonergic) activities have been examined in postmortem brain tissue in senile dementia of Lewy body type, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Quantitative data suggest that although extrapyramidal symptoms relate to striatal levels of dopamine, cognitive impairment is most closely associated with cholinergic (but not monoaminergic) deficits in temporal and archicortical areas. Hallucinations, which are most frequent in Lewy body dementia, appear to be related to an extensive cholinergic deficit in temporal neocortex and the resulting imbalance between decreased cholinergic and relatively preserved serotonergic activities. Topographic analyses such as these including consideration of quantitative "threshold" effects, may be relevant to the future anatomic focus of neurochemical investigations in dementia and to the development of appropriate experimental models.

A survey of occupational therapy curricula

Cross-sectional surveys were conducted of occupational therapy professional and technical programs. Part 1 describes general studies and prerequisite requirements for an entry-level baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy. Part 2 presents general studies, prerequisites, and technical curriculum of the occupational therapy assistant programs. Program directors design and manage professional programs based on their knowledge of academia, higher education, accreditation essentials, and consumer needs. Descriptive data of educational prerequisites and curriculum content are used in program evaluation and planning for accreditation, institutional strategic planning, marketing, projection of future needs, and facilitation of communication between curricula.