Dementia

Question 1

What is Dementia?

Answer 1

Dementia is a syndrome in which there is a deterioration

• in memory,
• thinking,
• behaviour
• and the ability to perform everyday activities

Question 2

Describe Alzhiemers

Answer 2

most common 60% percent

gradual decline over years

early loss of episodic memory

slow decline in function and cogntiion

Question 3

Describe vascular dementia

Answer 3

2nd most common

cerebal ischameia - impaired neurological function

‘stepwise decline’- abrupt decline with each vascualr event

may have stroke syndromes in PMH

Question 4

describe dementia with Lewy bodies

Answer 4

Lewy bodies- abnormal clumps of proteins int he brain

symptoms of

Parkinsonian movement features

visual hallucinations

REM sleep distruabcnes

Question 5

Describe Fronto-temporal dementia

Answer 5

less than 5%

symptoms- presonaltiy change, social inhbition, loss of language

second msot common in udner 65s

Question 6

What blood tests can we do for dementia

Answer 6

no widely used

NICe- do bloods to ruel out reversibel roganic cause of symptoms that might mimic dementia

• FBC
• calcium
• Thyroid
• Liver function (LFTS)
• U and E
• B12 and folate
• Hba1c and random glucose
• ESR (infalmmatory marker
• Other tests- HIV encepahloty, neurosyphillis, spesis culture

Question 7

what is the use of nuclear Medicine in Diagnosis of NICe

Answer 7

aid with subtyping of dementia - CT scan

can also do

SPECT and PET- if diagnosis uncertainity