Dementia Flashcards
What is dementia?
Irreversible, progressive decline and impairment of more than one aspect of higher brain function
What are the 4 different types of dementia?
- Vascular dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Alzheimers dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
What is the most common type of dementia?
Alzheimer’s dementia
What histological features will you see in alzheimer’s dementia?
amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
What impact does the formation of amyloid plaques in alzheimers dementia have?
Causes a reduction in the information transmission, which leads to brain cell death
What age does alzheimers dementia usually tend to present from?
60 years old
How does vascular dementia usually progress?
In a stepwise fashion
What areas of the brain are mostly effected in vascular dementia?
The white matter
What is a common feature of vascular dementia?
Mood disorders and disturbances
What sex is more at risk of developing vascular dementia?
Males
Name some risk factors for developing vascular dementia
Smoking, strokes, HTN, diabetes
Is lewy body dementia usually rapidly progressing?
Yes, death usually occurs around 7 years after diagnosis
What sex does Lewy Body usually effect?
Males
What is deposited in the brain in Lewy Body dementia?
Spherical Lewy Body proteins
What is a common symptom of Lewy body dementia?
Visual Hallucinations
What is a common presenting complaint of Lewy Body dementia?
Problems multi-tasking and performing complex cognitive actions
What disease can Lewy Body dementia mimic?
Parkinson’s Disease
What is the rarest form of dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia
What age is Frontotemporal dementia usually diagnosed?
Under 65 years old
What causes the atrophy in Frontotemporal dementia?
The deposition of abnormal proteins
What are the 3 ways that Frontotemporal dementia can present?
- Behavioural changes
- Sematic presentation
- Non-fluent presentation
What do you need to rule out before proceeding with a dementia diagnosis?
Things such as delirium, infection, cognitive impairment and electrolyte imbalances
