Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia

Question 1

Alzheimer’s

Answer 1

Most common type of dementia (50% are either pure or mixed AD)

Question 2

Onset

Answer 2

Majority after age 65
Risk increases with age
Onset can happen as early as age 40
Spontaneous

Question 3

Pathology

Answer 3

Abnormal protein deposits (amyloid plaques, tau tangles)
Initial degeneration occurs in the medial temporal lobes (hippocampus, entorhinal cortex)
Later spreads to parietal and frontal cortices

Question 4

MRI findings

Answer 4

Temporal and parietal atrophy
Enlargement of the ventricles (atrophy)

Question 5

Typical progression

Answer 5

Mild, moderate, severe

Question 6

Mild

Answer 6

Memory lapses and word-finding problems
Trouble with planning/organizing things

Question 7

Moderate

Answer 7

More pronounced memory/word-finding difficulties
Increased executive concerns
Personality changes
Changes in sleep patterns

Question 8

Severe

Answer 8

Brain tissue has shrunken significantly
Severe cognitive impairments
Withdrawal

Question 9

Neuropsychological performance

Answer 9

Differing early and later deficits

Question 10

Early deficits

Answer 10

Memory impairment - rapid forgetting, impaired learning, impaired recognition
Semantic memory deficits - dysnomic (decreased naming abilities), decreased semantic fluency