Dementia Flashcards
what is the age of onset of Alzheimer’s Disease?
most commonly after 65 years of age
what is Alzheimer’s Disease characterized by?
predominant memory changes - unable to learn or retain new information, reduced access to general knowledge
what is the age of onset of frontotemporal dementias?
50th decade of life
what are the 3 main variants of frontotemporal dementias?
- frontal/behavioural (pick’s)
- progressive non-fluent (primary progressive aphasia)
- semantic
what are the characteristics of semantic frontotemporal dementia?
neurodegeneration occurs more diffusely through the temporal lobes and into the parietal lobe.
Patient loses concept area, dictionary in the brain, facts, semantic memory
what are the characteristics of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy?
- vertical gaze palsy
- postural instability
- positive result on neurological exam for rigidity, dysphagia and dysarthria, and frontal release signs
- apathy, impaired verbal fluency, impaired reasoning
what are the characteristics of corticobasal ganglionic degeneration?
- parkinsonism usually lateralized
- ataxic gait
- apraxia - possibly even foreign limb
- attention/executive function on neuropsychological profile
what is the age of onset for diffuse lewy body disease?
variable, between 50-70 years of age
what is diffuse lewy body disease characterized by?
- motor dysfunction - parkinsonism, fluctuations in consciousness, visual hallucinations
- REM behaviour movement disorder (acting out dreams)
what is the age of onset for vascular dementia?
no clear answer - widely variable
what damage occurs in classic cortical vascular dementia?
stepwise deterioration associated with repeated strokes or transient ischemic attacks
what damage occurs in subcortical vascular dementia?
single strategic stroke, or small cumulative strokes (white matter disease)
what are the characteristics of mild cognitive impairment?
- impairment in one or more cognitive domain
- no substantial functional impairment
- not severe enough to impact functioning in daily life
what are the characteristics of chronic traumatic encephalopathy?
- mild cognitive impairment
- microstructural changes in white matter
- functional changes in brain metabolism
- molecular changes
- psychiatric symptoms (increased risk of suicide)
- interacts with genetic vulnerability, and drug and alcohol use
what are the characteristics of alcohol related brain damage?
- structural and functional changes in the brain
- thiamine deficiency, which can lead to Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s
- multifaceted changes
