Dementia Flashcards
What is considered as old age according to WHO?
65 years old !
what tasks can people struggle with as they begin to age?
- mobility
- dexterity
- communication
- introduction of medical conditions
what do older people value?
- company and relationships
- time
- a desire to contribute to society
- someone listening
what is dementia?
A syndrome that causes a progressive deterioration in cognitive function beyond what might be expected from normal aging
what does dementia have an effect on??
- memory
- thinking
- orientation
- comprehension
- calculation
- learning capacity
- language
- judgement
What is dementia characterised by?
- amnesia (especially for recent events)
- inability to concentrate
- disorientation in time, place or person
- intellectual impairment
what will patients with dementia often have problems with?
- day to day memory
- concentration, planning or organisation
- language
- visuospacial skills
- orientation
- making decisions
In dementia patients, what commonly accompanies the impairment in cognitive function?
Deterioration in:
- emotional control
- social behaviour
- motivation
What is the most common type of dementia?
Alzheimer’s (60%)
What occurs in patients with alzheimer’s?
Reduction size of the cortex, sever in the hippocampus area
- plaques deposits in spaces between nerve cells
- tangles build up inside cells
What are the distinctive features of alzheimer’s?
- aphasia
- communication difficulties
- easily muddled
- mood swings
- withdrawn
- loss of confidence
What are lifestyle risk factors for the development of alzheimer’s?
- smoking
- hypertension
- low folate
- high blood cholesterol
what gender is more likely to develop alzheimer’s?
women
What genetic abnormalities can make patients more likely to develop alzheimer’s?
Abnormalities on chromosome 1, 14 or 21
What is vascular dementia?
Caused by a reduced blood flow to the brain, which damages & eventually kills the brain cells
Why can vascular dementia occur?
- small vessel disease in brain
- a single large stroke
- lots of mini-strokes
- high blood pressure & diabetes
what are some distinctive features of vascular dementia?
- memory problem of sudden onset
- visuospatial difficulties
- anxiety
- delusions
- seizures
What are different types of dementia?
- alzheimer’s
- vascular dementia
- dementia with lewy bodies
- frontotemporal dementia
what are the early stage symptoms of dementia?
- loss of short term memory
- confusion, poor judgment, unwilling to make decisions
- anxiety, agitation or distress
- inability to manage everyday tasks
- communication problems
How is dementia diagnosed?
- screened to eliminate treatable causes
- neurological examination and detailed cognitive testing (MMSE)
what is MMSE?
Mini-mental state examination
what are the pros of MMSEs?
- well known
- easy to administer
- samples range of cognitive functions
- test-re-test and inter rater availability
How is dementia treated?
- counselling
- aspirin & reducing cardiac risks
- NSAIDs may slow progression
- vitamin E and Ginko Biloba may slow progression
what drug treatment may be used in dementia patients?
- donepezil
- galantamine
- rivastigmine
How can care homes be made more dementia-friendly?
- walls, floors, skirting boards & doors all different colours provides good visual contrast
- labels on drawers etc
- position personal pictures & items with personal relevance
