6. Neurocognitive Disorders Flashcards
3 Categories of NCD in the DSM5
- Delirium
- Major NCD
- Mild NCD
DF: A deterioration of cognitive function, with little/no disturbance of consciousness or perception, loss of multiple seperable but overlapping abilities
Dementia
Dementia Subtypes:
Alzheimer’s (50%+)
Vascular Dementia (10%) or mixed Vascular AD (15%)
Lewy Body Dementia (15-20%)
Frontotemporal dementia (5%)
Other neurodegenerative conditions
Differentiation in types of Dementia
Cortical and Subcortical (and mixed)
Alzheimer’s and Frontotemporal Dementia are examples of:
Cortical Dementias
Vascular Dementia and Parkinson’s Dementia are examples of:
Subcortical Dementias
Four A’s of Cortical Dementias (Symptoms)
Amnesia - Memory decline
Aphasia - change in language function
Apraxia - Motor difficulties
Agnosia - Inability to recognise objects, faces
Four D’s of Subcortical Dementias (Symptoms)
Dysmneisa - Mild memory problems
Dysexecutive syndrome - Executive dysfunction
Delay - Slow thinking and moving
Depletion - Reduced complexity of thought
DF: Disturbance in attention (reduced ability to direct, focus, sustain shift attention) and awareness (reduced orientation to the environment)
Delirium
Delirium is a direct physiological consequence of one or more of the 3:
- Substance intoxication or withdrawal
- Medication induced
- Other medical condition
DF: Significant cognitive decline from previous level of performance in one or more cognitive domains:
- Concern by individual or others
- Standardised testing or assessment
Major NCD
Most common form of Major NCD (60-80%)
Alzheimer’s disease
Age of onset for Alzheimer’s is usually after ___, onset prior to age ___ extremely rare.
65;45
First symptoms of Alzheimer’s usually noticed
Memory problems
Cause of Alzheimer’s: _____ form when protein pieces clump together between nerve cells
Amylpoid Plaques
Functional and Structural changes associated with Alzheimer’s
Hypofunction, Atrophy of Medial Temporal lobes, Hippocampus, Parietal lobes etc.
Cause of Alzheimer’s: _____ form when Tau proteins detach from microtubules in neurons and clump together
Neurofibrillary Tangles
Methods of detecting structural brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s
CT, MRI
Methods of detecting functional brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s
fMRI, PET
Biological Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease
Biological treatments - Medication like Cholinesterase inhibitors, antidepressants and antipsychotics
Psychosocial Treatments for Alzheimer’s Diseass
- Cognitive rehabilitation and stimulation
- Behavioural management and environmental changes
Second most common dementia (20%)
Vascular Dementia
A focal portion for the brain is injured due to an episode of interrupted blood flow for an extended period
Cerebral Vascular Accident (Stroke)
Risk factors for Cerebral Vascular Accident (Stroke)
Hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, smoking
