Dementia 2.0 Flashcards
When is diagnosed with Dementia?
- evidence of cognitive decline (in at least 1 cognitive domain)
- deficits INTERFERE with independence in everyday activities
- no ddx(esp. delirium)
How is the course of Dementia?
- progressive and worse with time
- a/w neurodegeneration
Name acute cognitive disorders of the brain. (3)
- viral encephalitis
- head injury
- stroke
How does viral encephalitis bring about cognitive impairment?
-fronto-temporal problems
>memory, behavioural changes, language
DIstinguish Antegrade from Retrograde amnesia
- Antegrade: inability to make new memories
- retrograde: the inability to recall old memories
In which condition may both these amnesia present together?
Transient Global Amnesia
What may trigger transient global amnesia and who is it often seen in?
- seen in >50 y.o
- triggers: emotions and changes in temperatures
Which anatomical site in the brain is said to be closely linked to TGA?
- the hippocampus
How often may TGA occur and how long does an episode take?
- this is a transient condition lasting 4-6hrs (always <24hrs)
- only 6% recurs
How is TGA different from Transient Epileptic Amnesia?
- more short lived (lasts 20-30 mins)
- a/w temporal lobe seizures (30% not witnessed)
- response to ANTI-EPILEPTIC medication
What metabolic factors cause sub-acute cognitive d.o?
- B12, calcium levels
- thyroid factors
Inflammatory cause of sub-acute cognitive d.o?
-limbic encephalitis
What is Subjective Cognitive Impairment?
How does subjective cognitive impairment present as?
Pt complains of worsening of thinking abilities, but standard test can’t proove decline….
- everyday forgetfulness
- reduced concentration/ attention/ reaction time and memory d.o
What causes Creuztfeldt-Jakob Disease? (CJD)
-causes by highly infective prion protein, which ACCUMULATES at high levels in the brain
>irreversible nerve damage —RARE CONDITION
What is the most common type of CJD and how does it come about?
- the SPORADIC type
- occurs in the 60s
- said to be caused by the “misfolding” of a normal brain protein forming a prion
Which CJD arises from eating beef?
- variant CJD d.t contamination by BSE
- seen in 20s
- —<1% of cases
How may Iatrogenic CJD occur?
- by poor sterility of surgical instruments used between brain surgeries
- (Past); CJD arose from the use of human pituitary GH from deceased individuals. infected with GJD
Which CJD presents with cerebellar dysfxn or visual onset of symptoms?
What is this CJD type’s age of onset?
- iatrogenic
- 30s
Which CJD causes painful SENSORY disturbance?
How long does this CJD last?
Variant
14months
Which CJD type causes RAPID onset of dementia, myoclonus, neuro deficits?
How long does this CJD type last?
Sporadic
4 months
What are the other symptoms of Prion disease?
- difficulty in gait
- hallucinations
- muscle stiffness
- confusion and Fatigue
- hard to speak
Major cause of dementia in the UK
AD