Delirium/Dementia Flashcards
Delirium
transient disorder of cognitive function, consciousness or perception
acute confusional states
Does delirium have a sudden or gradual onset?
Can be either
What is delirium usually associated with?
alcohol or drug withdrawal
hypoglycemia
increased metabolites
brain surgery
fevers
electrolyte imbalances
Hyperactive Delirium
acute disturbances in attention or awareness
2-3 days to develop
What are risk factors for hyperactive delirium?
meds (benzodiazepines and narcotics)
acute infections/sepsis
surgery
hypoxia
electrolyte/metabolic dysfunction
insomnia
S/Sx of delirium
restless
irritable
difficulty concentrating
insomnia
tremulousness
poor appetite
(fully developed): hallucinations, completely inattentive, grossly altered perceptions, lacking judgment
Is delirium reversible?
yes
Hypoactive delirium
affects right sides frontal nasal ganglion disruption (areas for coordination and alertness)
more common in metabolic (liver/kidney) patients
S/Sx of hypoactive delirium
decreased alertness and attention span, perception and interpretation of environment
apethetic
sleepy
forgetful
slow speech
lethargic
what is the duration of delirium?
hrs/days/months
What is the onset of delirium?
acute
Dementia
aquifer deterioration and progressive failure of cerebral function
impaired intellectual responses-memory, language, judgement, decision making, orientation
What two diseases can cause dementia?
HIV
crutz feldt disease
patho physiology of dementia
neuro degeneration
compression of brain tissue
atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels
brain trauma, infection, inflammation
Can delirium be prevented?
yes
What can dementia present as?
agitation
wandering
aggression
frustration
What is the onset of delirium?
slow, insidious, progressive
Is dementia reversible?
no
S/Sx of dementia
depends on cause
memory loss, cognitive slowing, decreased concentration and memory
Is there a cure for dementia?
no
What is the treatment for dementia directed at?
restoring and optimizing function capacity
accommodating with lost abilities
What is the duration of dementia?
months to years
Alzheimer’s Disease
leading cause of severe dysfunction of cognition in elderly
Are men or women more likely to have AD?
women
2/3
What is early onset usually due to?
genetic association
What is late onset AD usually due to?
sporadic, no genetic preassociation
Risk factors of dementia
65+ yrs old
family history
genetic
existing cognitive impairment
unhealthy lifestyle
smoking/drinking
isolation
previous head trauma
TAU protein
accumulation of neurotic plaques and intraneural neurofibrillaru tangles
Where is AD most centralized in the brain?
hippocampus
cerebral cortexz
Vascular dementia
second most common
related to cerebral vascular disease
HYPOfusion to the brain
Risk factors of Vascular dementia
DM
HLD
HTN
smoking
Frontotemporal Dementia
rare: “pick disease”
familial association
age onset <60 yrs
genetic mutation of TAU protein
What are the 3 clinical syndromes of fronto temporal dementia?
behavioral agent
progressive non fluent behavior
semantic dementia
