Criteria and Assessment of Dementia

Question 1

4 main types of dementia

Answer 1

Alzheimer’s disease
Vascular dementias
Lewy Body dementia
Frontotemporal dementia

Question 2

6 cognitive domains

Answer 2

Complex attention
Executive function
Learning and memory
Language
Perceptual-motor
Social cognition

Question 3

Complex attention

Answer 3

Ability to focus on task despite distracting stimuli
Ability to hold and manipulate information in mind (working memory)
Aspects of processing speed
Mainly frontal lobs

Question 4

Executive function

Answer 4

Processes required for complex goal-directed activity
Mental flexibility
Mainly frontal lobes

Question 5

Learning and memory

Answer 5

Visual, verbal, semantic, episodic, short term and long term memory
Mainly temporal lobes

Question 6

Gnosis

Answer 6

The ability to recognize faces, objects , symbols

Question 7

Social cognition

Answer 7

Following social rules, appropriate behaviour, consistent decisions
Ability to understand one’s own emotions
Ability to understand others’ mental states and emotions
Frontal lobes

Question 8

Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 8

Dementia + insidious onset + worsening + amnestic (memory problems) or atypical presentation

Question 9

Vascular dementia

Answer 9

Dementia where the clinical and/or imaging features strongly suggest a vascular contribution

Question 10

Frontal-subcortical dementia

Answer 10

Pattern of cognitive impairment where processing speed, complex attention, and executive functions are impaired
Due to damage in the frontal lobes, basal ganglia, and/or connections between these two

Question 11

Dementia with lewy bodies

Answer 11

2 of: 1 or more features of PD, fluctuating cognition with pronounced variation in attention and alertness, hallucinations, REM sleep behaviour disorder

Question 12

Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia

Answer 12

Prominent initial behavioural symptoms
Dysfunction in the brain region that is involved in social cognitive functions
Atrophy of frontal lobe regions seen on imaging

Question 13

Primary progressive aphasia

Answer 13

Type of frontotemporal dementia
Prominent initial language dysfunction
Atrophy of relevant frontal and temporal lobe regions

Question 14

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

Answer 14

Not necessary for functioning, but are needed to live independently
M-SHAFT
Medication management
Shopping
Housekeeping
Accounting
Food preparation
Transportation/telephone

Question 15

Activities of Daily Living

Answer 15

Self care activities that a person performs daily
DEATH
Dressing
Eating
Ambulating
Toileting
Hygiene