Dementia Flashcards
what is dementia?
- loss of memory
- loss of judgement
- loss of reasoning
- changes in mood
- changes in behaviour
- change in communication abilities
** these issues cause difficulty in day to day function
- Medical term that describes progressive declines in cognitive function
- broad term that includes groups of brain disorders characterized by decline in cognitive abilities
Is dementia a disease?
no, it is a group of symptoms which may accompany certain diseases or conditions
Common stereotypes of dementia
- aggressive 2. empty
types of dementia
- reversible
- non reversible
what is Non-reversible Dementia?
- Alzheimer’s disease (most common type)
- Vascular Dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Fronto-Temporal Lobe dementia
*medically diagnosed diseases and syndromes that cause progressive and degenerative changes in the brain.
*Has a unique underlying cause and physical course
* no cure is known
what is alzheimers?
retrograde memory loss
types of Alzeimer’s
- Sporadic Alzeimer’s disease
- Familial alzeimer’s disease
what is sporadic Alzeimer’s disease?
- ** most common - 93-96% of all known cases - unknown cause - greatest risk factor is age
What is Familial Alzembers disease?
-in 5-7% of case - directly linked to genetics and inherit - symptoms show earlier than 65 years of age
what is Vascular Dementia?
** non reversible**
- cells of the brain are impaired or damaged due to lack of O2
- common cause = Strokes, progessive narrowing of vessels
- stepped progression from occurence or strokes
- affects some areas of the brain more than others (ie. memory, vision, or language)
- can co exist with alzheimer’s (called mixed dementia)
Lewy Body Dementia
- Non reversible dementia**
- progressive brain disease identified by protein deposits that disrupt normal brain functioning
- the proteins can be found in the brain stem and other areas.
- similar to the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer’s disease
- dont know the cause
Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia
- visual hallucinations
- change in awareness
- rigidity
- tremors
- shuffling movements
symptoms of Alzeimer’s diease
…
Fronto- Temporal lobe Dementia
- Non reversible**
- group of uncommon disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes
- result in behaviour and language changes
- occurs at a younger age then alzeihmers
- no identified risk factors of causes
* loss of social compass and morality. Social and cultural filter loss
Reversible Dementia
conditions that left untreated result in the same symptoms of dementia
symptoms are
- memory loss
- imparied jugdement
- communication challenges
** leads to permanent damage but if treated can be reduced in severity or rid of
Examples of reversible dementia
- nutritional deficiencies and dehydration
- metabilic disorders, ie. vit B12 deficidency
- depression
- delirium
Limbic system
- center of the brain
- role in forming and retrienving memories
- emotions
what happens when the limbic system is damaged?
- mood swings
- forgettfulness
Temporal Lobes
- play a role in retrieval of memories
- primary centers of language
- expressing yourself and understanding others