Cognition Flashcards
What is dementia?
progressive, global cognitive decline with significant impairment of normal function
What are some symptoms of dementia?
memory loss restless, repetitive, purposeless activity sexual disinhibition dysphasia confabulation illusions emotional incontinence
What are the 4As of alzheimer’s?
amnesia
aphasia
agnosia
apraxia
How does mild alzheimer’s present?
amnesia and spacial disorientation
How does moderate alzheimer’s disease present?
personality disintegration
focal parietal signs eg. dysphasia and apraxia
How does severe alzeimer’s present?
neurovegetative changes with apathy, wasting, incontinence, +/- seizures, spasticity
What is mild cognitive impairment?
cognitive decline greater than expected for an individual but without interfering notably with an individual’s life ie. no functional decline
What are the functions of the frontal lobe?
executive function planning sequencing impulse inhibition personality motor cortex
What are the functions of the temporal lobe?
memory
speech
comprehension
What are the functions of the parietal lobe?
visuospatial map reading dressing numeracy reading
What are the functions of the occipital lobe?
vision
Give some non-modifiable risk factors for developing dementia
age
? genetic factors/ proteins
Give some modifiable risk factors for developing dementia
educational exposure limited physical exercise smoking poor diet obesity excess alcohol hypertension diabetes hypercholesterolaemia
What is a primary dementia?
no reversible cause eg Alzheimer’s
What is a secondary dementia?
reversible cause eg. thyroid disease or B12 deficiency
What constitutes young-onset dementia?
under 65
What causes dementia over 65 from most common to least common?
Alzheimer’s disease
Vascular dementia
Lewy Body dementia
Frontotemporal dementia
What is the aetiology of Alzheimer’s disease?
unknown exact cause
inc no of beta-amyloid plaques leads to neuronal cell death
dec acetylcholine
What is receptive aphasia?
difficulty understanding information given
What is expressive aphasia?
difficulty expressing information