Degenerative Diseases Flashcards
Define dementia
A progressive impairment of multiple domains of cognition in an alert patient leading to a loss of acquired skills and interference in occupation and social life.
Name four causes of late onset dementia
Alzheimer’s
Lewy body disease (parkinsons)
Vascular
Other
Name four causes of early onset dementia
Alzheimer’s
Frontotemporal
Vascular
Other (Toxic/alcohol, Huntington’s, HIV, CJD, MS)
What are some treatable causes or mimics of dementia?
B12 deficiency Thyroid disease HIV Syphilis Hydrocephalus Brain tumour Get pseudodementia in depression
How does Alzheimer’s present?
Tempero-parietal
Memory and cognition problems
Visuospatial and language problems
Memory preserved until later
How does frontotemporal dementia present?
Early change in personality and behaviour
Change in eating habits
Dysphasia
Memory and visuospatial usually preserved
What aspects of alzheimers need pharmacological treatment?
Insomnia
Depression
Behaviour
What drugs can be used to treat Lewy bodys or alzheimers disease?
Cholinesterase inhibitors like donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine
NMDA antagonist like memantamine
What is Parkinsonism?
A clinical syndrome consisting of two or more of bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and postural instability.
What are the causes of parkinsonism?
Pathology in the basal ganglia (dopamine loss)
Lewy body disease
Drug induced (dopamine antagonists)
Vascular parkinsonism
What are some complications of parkinsonism and its treatments?
Depression Balance Bowel and bladder problems Dementia Speech and swallow problems Drug induced-motor fluctuations when the levodopa wears off, bradykinesia from levodopa and psychiatric hallucinations from the meds
