Dementia Flashcards
Name 3 new onset mental disorders in older people
Dementia Depression Delirium Anxiety disorders Alcohol/Drug abuse
Define dementia
A progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the body beyond what might be expected from normal aging
Cognitive functions that may be impaired in patients with dementia
Orientation Perception Language Problem solving Personality Memory Day-to-day tasks
Subtypes of dementia
Alzheimers Vascular dementia Lewy body Parkinson's disease dementia Fronto-temporal dementia
Cause of vascular dementia
Multiple small strokes and brain ischemia
Sudden onset stepwise progression of dementia
Lewy body dementia
Related to Parkinson’s disease:
Symptoms include highly complex and detailed visual hallucinations, falls and mobility problems and increased sensitvity to anti-psychotic drugs (DA blockers)
Inital assessment in dementia
History from the patient and an informant.
History of different cognitive problems, functional decline, risks, behavioural problems, physical problems, and family history
Define delirium
Acute confusion due to a medical cause
Symptoms of delirium
Drowsiness, disorientated, poor attention Psychotic symptoms Disturbed sleep-wake cycle Irritibility Worse at night
State four differences between delirium and dementia
Delirium: Sudden Lasts days-weeks Clouded consciousness (drowsy, disorentated) Hallucinations common Signs of physical illness
Dementia: Gradual Permanent Clear consciousness Hallucinations rare (exception lewy) No signs of physical illness
Causes of delirium
Drugs (alcohol, sedatives, opiates, anticholinergics) Medical conditions (UTI, chest infection, organ failure) Neurological conditions (head injury, cerebral haemorrhage)
Management of delirium
Identify and treat underyling causes, (sedation only if patient poses a risk)
Reassurance and reorientation
Place in a quiet area with adequate lighting. Ask for family input.
