Alzheimer's & Dementia Flashcards
what is dementia?
Loss of intellectual functions. Such as thinking, remembering, & reasoning.
Is dementia a disease?
No it is a group of symptoms which may accompany certain diseases or physical conditions.
Well known diseases that cause dementia are ___
Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Parkinson’s and Pick’s disease.
Other conditions that cause or mimic dementia include:
depression, brain tumors, nutritional deficiences, head injuries, hydrocephalus, infections, drug reactions, & thyroid promblems.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common, affecting 4 million Americans. List symptoms.
Gradual memory loss, decline in ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation in time and space, impaired judgement, personality change, difficulty learning, loss of language and communication skills.
Alzheimers can last between __ and __ years.
3
20 or more
A definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is possible only through ___
examination of brain tissue, at autopsy
Ten warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
- Recent memory loss that affects job performance
- Difficulty performing familiar tasks.
- Problems with language.
- Disorientation of time and place.
- Poor or weaker judgement.
- Problems with abstract thinking.
- Misplacing things.
- Changes in mood or behavior.
- Personality changes.
- Loss of initiative.
Vascular Dementia
- a deterioration of mental capabilities caused by multiple strokes (infarcts) in the brain
- onset can be sudden as many strokes can occur before symptoms appear
- treating the underlying symptom (like high BP) can modify the progression of the disorder
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a
- progressive disorder of the CNS which affects more than one million Americans
- individuals with PD lack dopamine which is necessary for control of muscle activity
- PD is often characterized by tremors, stiffness, speech impediments, difficulty initiating physical movement
- Some patients develop dementia
2 drugs used to improve symptoms of PD
Levodopa-becomes dopamine inside the body
Deprenyl-prevents degeneration of dopamine-containing neurons
Pick’s disease is a rare brain disorder, & difficult to diagnose.
List the symptoms.
Disturbances in personality, behavior, and orientation.
Definitive diagnosis obtained only by autopsy.
Depression
-marked by sadness, inactivity, difficulty thinking and concentration, feelings of hopelessness & sometimes suicidal tendencies.
Depression and Dementia can be present together and the result can be?
Exaggerated cognitive deterioration.
_______ whether alone or in combination with dementia can be reversed with proper treatment.
Depression
