Dementia Flashcards
Demographic risk factors for Alzheimers
1 in 9 (10.7%) age 65 and older
Almost 2/3 of Americans are women
Older black Americans are about twice as likely
Types of dementia (besides Alzheimers)
Vascular dementia
Dementia with leeway bodies
Frontotemporal dementia
Parkinson’s disease
Posterior cortical dementia
Long-term memory
Recollection of an important day in the distant past (childhood, etc)
Short-term memory
Where you parked your car, what you had for lunch, etc
Working memory
Operates over a few seconds, temporary storage manipulates information, focuses attention
Sequence of events in a story while understanding the story
Factors associated with dementia
Include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol
Alzheimer’s stage 1
No impairment
Does not experience any memory problems
Alzheimers stage 2
Mild cognitive decline
Person notices some lapses with memory but no symptoms are detected during medical work up/exams
Alzheimers stage 3
Mild cognitive decline
Noticeable problems with word finding/names, problems at work, difficulty with organizing and planning
Alzheimers stage 4
Moderate cognitive decline
Forget recent events, greater difficulty with home management tasks, moody, withdrawn behavior
Alzheimers stage 5
Moderate-severe cognitive decline
Unable to recall personal information, long term memory is better than short term, requires assistance with home management, requires assistance selecting clothes for weather
Alzheimers stage 6
Severe cognitive decline
Memory declines, personality affected, requires extensive help with daily activities and personal care
Alzheimers stage 7
Very severe decline
Limited response to environment, assistance with all daily living activities, motor skills including swallowing impaired
State of language and cognition in early stage dementia
Short term/working memory problems
State of language and cognition in late stage dementia
Significant working memory problems
Compensatory strategies for dementia
Writing important things down in a notebook to compensate for a weakness in memory
Taking breaks while doing tasks that take a long time to compensate for an impairment in the ability to concentrate
Apraxia
Impaired ability to carry out motor activities despite intact motor function
Dysarthria
Inability to use speech that is distinct and connected because of a loss of muscle control after damage to the peripheral or central nervous system
