Cognitive Disorders Flashcards
What is commonly the cause of an acute cognitive disorder?
A brain insult.
It is usually limited to the area of the brain affected.
What are examples of acute cognitive disorders?
Viral encephalitis Head trauma Stroke Transient global amnesia Transient epileptic amnesia
What symptoms present in an individual with viral encephalitis?
Involves a prodrome of pyrexia and malaise. This is followed by memory issues, behavioural changes and language difficulties.
Viral encephalitis tends to favour the temporal lobes.
What features do a head injury produce?
Affects the subcortical and/or frontal regions, producing attention problems, memory issues and executive dysfunction.
What is transient global amnesia?
A condition of abrupt onset affecting the laying down of new memories. Patient will remember personal information.
It is transient, lasting <24 hours.
What age group is commonly affected by transient global amnesia?
Over 50s.
How does transient epileptic amnesia present?
It is a short episodic condition involving forgetfulness, repetitive questioning and seizures. Associated with the temporal lobe.
Will respond to anti-epileptics.
Is transient global amnesia a condition that is likely to recur?
No, it is usually a one-off.
What is subjective/functional cognitive impairment?
A very common condition that presents with everyday forgetfulness - will impact on functioning.
There is no neurodegeneration, and crucially there will be no progression.
What are prion diseases?
A group of sub-acute cognitive disorders affecting prions.
Where are prions found?
In the nervous and lymphatic tissue.
What is the most common form of prion disease?
Creutz-Feldt disease.
There are 4 subtypes.
What is limbic encephalitis?
An inflammatory/antibody-mediated group of conditions.
What are the features of limbic encephalitis?
Causes short-term memory deficits, seizures and behavioural changes.
Treat underlying cause.
