Care of the Elderly Peer Teaching Flashcards
Which is the most common type of dementia?
Alzheimer’s disease
What are the 5 A’s of Alzheimer’s Disease?
- Amnesia
- Aphasia
- Apraxia
- Agnosia
- Apathy
Describe the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Global atrophy
- Intra-cellular neurofibrillary tangles made from tau protein -> disrupt microtubules in the nerves
- Extracellular beta-amyloid plaques -> disrupt nerve communication at synapses
- > causes nerve degeneration
Treatment for Alzheimer’s?
Anticholinesterase inhibitors:
- Donepezil
- Rivastigmine
- Galantine
Pt has receptive aphasia. How do they present?
- Difficulty comprehending
- > Wernicke’s area
A patient has expressive aphasia. How do they present?
- Difficulty producing language
- > Broca’s area
Describe Lewy Body Dementia.
- Day-to-day fluctuating cognition
- Visual hallucinations
- Sleep disturbance
- Recurrent falls
- Parkinsons
- DO NOT PRESCRIBE NEUROLEPTIC DRUGS AS THIS MAKES DLB PATIENTS WORSE
Describe Vascular Dementia
- No atherosclerotic risk factors; multiple cerebral infarcts
- Step-wise deterioration in cognition
- Can get focal neurology
- Fits
- Nocturnal confusion
Describe Pick’s disease.
A type of fronto-temporal dementia
- disinhibition
- antisocial behaviour
- personality changes
- knife-blade atrophy
Describe normal pressure hydrocephalus
‘Wet, Wacky, Wobbly’
- Urinary incontinence
- Dementia
- Gait disturbance
- > due to increased CSF, but ventricles dilate
Name 3 cognitive assessment tools, other than MMSE.
- Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination III (ACE-III)
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA)
- Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMT)
- 6-item cognitive impairment test (6-CIT)
- General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GP COG)
What is mild cognitive impairment?
- Cognitive impairment but minimal impairment of ADLs.
Define delirium.
Acute, transient, reversible state of fluctuating impairment of consciousness, cognition and perception.
What are the 2 types of delirium?
- Hyperactive: agitation, inappropriate behaviour, hallucinations
- Hypoactive: lethargy, reduced concentration.
Name 5 causes of Delirium.
D = Drug use (anticholinergics, opioids) E = Electrolyte abnormalities L = Lack of drug (withdrawal) I = Infection eg. UTI, Pneumonia R = Reduced sensory input (blind, deaf) I = intracranial problems (stroke, post-ictal) U = Urinary retention + constipation M = Malnutrition (thiamine, Nicotinic acid, B12 deficiency
Define ‘delusion’.
- A fixed, false belief, held with conviction
- Cannot be altered with evidence / proof
- Is inappropriate according to the social / cultural norm.
What does a Delirium screen involve?
Bloods:
- FBC (WCC for infection, Anaemia, MCV)
- U+Es (urea, AKI or Na+ / K+)
- LFT (liver failure, or alcohol abuse)
- Blood glucose
- TFTs (hypothyroid)
- Increased Calcium (Bones, stones, moans + groans)
- Haematinics (B12 and Folate)
- INR (Warfarin, Bleeding risk)
What does a septic screen involve?
- Urine Dipstick
- CXR
- Blood Cultures
- ABG - Lactate
- Bloods - ?infection
- Lumbar puncture
- ECG
How would you manage a patient with Delirium?
Supportive Mx: alter the environment to help with re-orientation
- Clocks + calendars
- side room
- Sleep hygiene: discourage napping
- Adequate lighting
- Continuity of care
- Access to hearing aids / glasses
Medical treatment for Delirium?
- Try to avoid, if possible *
- IM Haloperidol (antipsychotic)
- Benzodiazepines