A walk round the brain: approaching the patient with cognitive decline

Question 1

What is the prevalence of delirium (or ‘acute brain syndrome’) in patients in general hospital wards?

Answer 1

Up to 20% of all patients in general hospital wards have delirium or ‘acute brain syndrome’.

Question 2

What is the difference between delirium and dementia?

Answer 2

Delirium is an acute brain syndrome and dementia is chronic, progressive cognitive decline.

Question 3

Name two main brain syndromes of cognitive dysfunction.

Answer 3

1. Delirium
2. Dementia

Question 4

Dementia is the greatest public health challenge facing the developed world, mainly due to ageing populations. TRUE or FALSE?

Answer 4

TRUE

Question 5

Early and accurate diagnosis as well as accurate prognosis of dementia is extremely relevant in the treatment of dementia. TRUE or FALSE?

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

What is the prevalence of dementia between the ages of 40-65 years old?

Answer 6

0.1% (1 in 1,000 will have dementia)

Question 7

What is the prevalence of dementia between the ages of 65-70 years old?

Answer 7

2.0% (1 in 50 will have dementia)

Question 8

What is the prevalence of dementia between the ages of 70-80 years old?

Answer 8

5.0% (1 in 20 people will have dementia)

Question 9

What is the prevalence of dementia in individuals over the age of 80 years old?

Answer 9

20% (1 in 5 will have dementia)

Question 10

is dementia a disease that only older adults/the elderly can get? YES or NO, explain.

Answer 10

NO. There is young onset dementia as well as early onset dementia. It is not only old people who get dementia.