Dementia Flashcards
Four main types of dementia.
Alzheimers.
Vascular.
Dementia with Lewy bodies.
Frontotemporal.
Define dementia.
Acquired progressive loss of cognitive function, intellectual and social ability which will become severe enough to interfere with daily functioning.
What percentage of dementia cases does the subtype of Alzheimers take up ?
60% - predominant dementia diagnosis.
What structural features is Alzheimers disease associated with ?
- Reduction in size of cortex especially hippocampus.
- Beta amyloid plaques in spaces between nerve cells.
- Tau protein tangles build up inside nerve cells.
What are the clinical signs/symptoms of Alzheimers disease ?
STML, aphasia, difficulty communicating, mood swings, loss of confidence, withdrawn, slower onset than other types of dementia.
What are the predisposing factors to developing Alzheimers disease ?
Age.
Women.
Head injury.
Smoking.
Low folate level.
Hypertension.
High cholesterol.
Abnormality on chromosome 1, 14, 21.
What structural features is vascular dementia associated with ?
Reduced blood flow to the brain resulting in ischaemia by either -
- Small vessel disease - narrowing of blood vessels.
- Stroke.
- Multiple TIAs - cumulative effect.
What are the clinical signs/symptoms of vascular dementia ?
Sudden onset.
Anxiety.
Delusions.
Seizures.
Visuospatial difficulties.
What are the associated predisposing factors to development of vascular dementia ?
High chloesterol and BP.
Therefore, obesity, smoking, alcohol, Type 2 diabetes.
What structural features are associated with dementia with Lewy bodies ?
Lewy bodies (abnormal protein deposits) inside cells in areas of memory and muscle movement function in the brain.
What other neurological condition are Lewy bodies seen in ?
Parkinsons.
What are the clinical signs/symptoms associated with Lewy bodies dementia ?
STML.
Attentional, visuospatial, speech, swallowing and sleep difficulty.
Delusions.
Fluctuation in cognitive ability.
What two abnormalities are associated with frontotemporal dementia ?
Ubiquitin associated clumps of protein.
TDP-43 - primary protein aggregate.
What are the clinical signs/symptoms associated with frontotemporal dementia ?
STML (not always present).
Uncontrollable repetition of words.
Mutism.
Personality change.
Decline in personal and social conduct.
Repetition of other people speaking.
What age group is frontotemporal dementia most commonly associated with ?
Younger.
