dementia

Question 1

difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia

Answer 1

Alzheimer diagnosis is decline in 2 or more cognitive domain while dementia is decline in at least one

Question 2

name 6 neurocognitive domains

Answer 2

complex attention
learning and memory
executive function
perceptual motor
language 
social cognition

Question 3

mild neurocognitive disorder

Answer 3

evidence of modest cognitive decline
cognitive deficits are insufficient to interfere with independence
cognitive deficits do not occur exclusively in the context of delirium-same as major
cognitive deficits are not primarily attributable to another mental disorder- same as major

Question 4

characteristics of Alzheimer’s

Answer 4

decline in short term memory
depression early on
persecutory accusation
personality changes

Question 5

Gross neuropathology changes

Answer 5

cerebral cortex shrinkage
enlarged ventricles
neuronal loss- degeneration and loss of synaptic connectivity

Question 6

histological changes in Alzheimer’s

Answer 6

plaques- sticky proteins called beta- amyloid between nerve cells
neurofibrillary tangles- inside dying cells (twisted fibers of a protein called tau)

Question 7

list the risk factors for Alzheimer’s

Answer 7

age 
family history 
down syndrome 
head injury
Fam history of Parkinson's
depression
epilepsy
encephalitis/meningitis
herpes

Question 8

special investigations of dementia

Answer 8

TSH, VDRL, FBC, Renal & Hepatic function, Ca2+.

Phos, B12, Folate, CXR, PSA, HIV, EEG, CT scan

Question 9

management for some Alzheimer’s

Answer 9

cholinesterase inhibitors
donepezil
galantamine
rivastigmine

Question 10

vascular dementia risk factors

Answer 10

smoking 
hypertension
diabetes 
previous CVA, TIA, MI
IHD, PVD

Question 11

Features of vascular dementia

Answer 11

personality preserved

step-wise deterioration