CCC- Memory loss in old age, dementia (not finished!) Flashcards
How is dementia more than a memory loss?
It also affects cognitions and behaviour
What is dementia?
Dementia describes a collection of symptoms associated with impaired cognitive abilities and the ability to carry out day to day tasks/ activities.
What are some symptoms of dementia?
Memory loss
Difficulty sustaining attention
Language
Disorientation in space & time
Mood, social & behavioural changes
What are some examples of mood, social & behavioural changes for an individual with dementia?
Can withdraw from social situations.
Become depressed.
Have anxiety/ agitiation/ socially inhibited- gambling.
What is tip of the tongue phenomenon?
The phenomenon of failing to retrieve a word or term from memory.
What is dementia caused by?
Caused by a number of biological diseases- especially chronic & long lasting diseases.
Dementia isn’t a diagnosis in its own right.
Is dementia a normal part of ageing?
NO
What are some causes of dementia?
Chronic diseases- e.g. parkinson’s- neurodegenerative diseases.
Traumatic brain injuries, alcoholism, deficient in certain vitamins
Alzheimer’s disease.
Huntington’s disease.
How prevalent is dementia?
UK- estimated 850,000 people living with dementia.
Roughly 1 in 14 people over the age of 65.
Expected that 2 million people will have dementia by 2050
What is the most common cause of dementia & what is the percentage?
Alzheimer’s disease.
60-70% of cases.
What are other common pathologies which cause dementia?
cerebrovascular disease
Neocortical lewy body disease
If you have multiple pathologies together- are you more/ less likely to experience dementia?
More likely!
What is Alzheimers disease?
Neurodegenerative disease: progressive, irreversible deterioration in cognitive abilities & daily function.
In most people- symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear after the age of 60.
What are possible risk factors for dementia?
Stress & anxiety & psychiatric conditions.
How are there individual differences in symptom progression for Alzheimer’s disease?
The way a person experiences the disease- depend on many factors including genes, physical health, personality, emotional resilience, medication they take & support they rely on.
How are there individual differences in symptom progression for Alzheimer’s disease?
The way a person experiences the disease- depend on many factors including genes, physical health, personality, emotional resilience, medication they take & support they rely on.
What is atrophy?
Neuronal loss, reduction in grey & white matter volume.
Topographical disease progression?
Topographical disease progression, starts off in medial temporal lobe, wider temporal regions, parietal & frontal areas, then widespread atrophy (with visual and motor areas spared until late disease stages.
How do you commonly look at atrophy?
Through structural magnetic resonance imaging.
Over the course of Alzhemiers disease- the mass that can be lost can be the size of what?
An orange
Where is a key area that atrophy occurs?
Hippocampus (which has a key role in encoding & memory)
Neurotransmitter production & function is impaired.
How can this be explained?
Synaptic dysfunction- altered communication between neurons.
Loss of cell bodies in Nucleus Basalis of meynert- very early marker of Alzheimers.
These cell bodies are involved in the production of acetylecholine (cholinergic neurotransmitter system)
Medications to reduce dementia symptoms boost brains supply of acetylcholine (which alleviates some of the cognitive symptoms.)
What do medications which reduce dementia symptoms do?
Boost brains supply of acetylcholine (which alleviates some of the cognitive symptoms.)
What abnormalities develop in the proteins required for the maintenance & repair of neurons?
Senile plaques- excess B amyloid protein
Neurofibrillary tangles- misformed tau protein