Dementia Flashcards

1
Q

Epidemiology

A
1% of total population 
>65% 6% 
>80% 20%
Alzheimer's more common in women
Vascular more in men
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2
Q

Types

A
Alzheimer's 62% 
Vascular 17%
Mixed 10%
Lewy body 4%
Frontotemporal 2%
Parkinson's 2%
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3
Q

Alzheimer’s disease causes

A

f 00.0 early onset 65

  • cholinergic hypothesis-> degeneration of cholinergic neurones-> decreased acetylcholine
  • amyloid hypothesis -> b-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangle formation or hyperphosphorylated tau -> APOE4 is s genetic risk factor
  • tau hypothesis-> tanlgles form inside neurones-> disturb communication-> neurone dies
  • inflammation-> 70% loss of locus coeruleus cells-> decreased noradrenaline (usually acts as an anti inflammatory)
  • herpes simplex
  • myelin breakdown
  • oxidative stress
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4
Q

Pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease

A
  • loss of neurones in multiple regions
  • amyloid plaque and tangle build up
  • genetic factors
    • late onset APOE4
    • early onset amyloid precursors protein
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5
Q

Clinical features of Alzheimer’s

A
Amnesia
Agnosia -> loss of sensory interpretation 
Aphasia
Apraxia -> loss of skilled motor function 
Executive function loss 
- disinhibition 
-perseveration
- apathy
- dysexecuative syndrome 
Behavioural and psychological symptoms
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6
Q

Risk factors for Alzheimer’s

A

Cardiovascular -> smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, history of mi
Head injury
Low educational attainment
Obesity

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7
Q

Vascular dementia distinguishing features

A

f01.0 vascular dementia of acute onset
f0.1.1 multi infarct disease
Higher mortality than AD
Focal neurological signs
Evidence of cv disease or stroke
Uneven or stepwise deterioration

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8
Q

Risk factors for vascular dementia

A
Smoking 
Hypertension
Diabetes
Hypercholesterolemia 
History of MI
previous stroke
AF
Obesity
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9
Q

Lewy body dementia pathophysiology

A

Neuronal inclusions composed of abnormally phosphorylated neurofilament protiens aggregated with ubiquitin and a-synuclien
Loss of dopamine producing neurones in SN
Loss of acetylcholine producing neurones in basal nucleus of maynerts
Cerebral atrophy

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10
Q

Distinguishing features of Lewy body dementia

A
Day to day fluctuations 
Recurrent visual hallucinations 
Motor signs of Parkinson's
Recurrent falls and syncope
Transient disturbances of consciousness
Extreme sensitivity to anti-psychotics
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11
Q

Roles of the frontal lobe

A
Personality 
Planning/sequencing
Estimation 
Set shifting
Non literal language appreciation 
Inhibition
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12
Q

Roles of the temporal lobe

A

Auditory processing
Visual processing
Semantics processing

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13
Q

Distinguishing features of frontotemporal dementia

A
Early decline in social and personal conduct 
Early emotional blunting 
Attenuated speech output
Echolalia 
Perservation
Mutism
Early loss of insight
Relative sparing of other cognitive functions
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14
Q

Variants of frontotemporal dementia

A
Behavioural 
-> lethargy and aspontinateity v. Disinhibition 
Progressive non fluent aphasia
-> deterioration in speech fluency 
Semantic 
-> naming and word comprehension
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15
Q

Epidemiology of BPSD

A

40% of mild condition impairment
60% of early dementia
Effects 90-100% at some point

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16
Q

Most common behavioural symptoms

A
Apathy 
Aggression 
Wandering
Restlessness
Eating problems
17
Q

Most common psychological symptoms

A

Depression
Anxiety
Insomnia

18
Q

Management of BPSD

A
Find and treat the cause
-pain
-medication
-want something
Wait and see
Education and counselling 
Prophylaxis
Environmental modification 
Direct behavioural approaches 
Medication
19
Q

Biological management of dementia

Anticholinesterase inhibitors

A

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors -> reduce Ach breakdown

  • > donepezil, invastigmine, galantamine -> mild to moderate AD
  • slow the rate of cognitive decline in 50%
  • start at a low dose
  • reasses 3m later
  • > mentamine for moderate to severe AD
  • beware of cholinergic side effects
20
Q

Biological management of dementia

NMDA antagonists

A

Reduce glutamate excitotoxicity
Moderate to severe AD
second line to Acherase inhibitors

21
Q

Biological treatment of dementia

Symptomatic relief

A

Antipsychotics * not Lewy body!
Antidepressants
Anxiolytics
-> all increase sedation which increases falls

22
Q

Psychological treatments for dementia

A

Behavioural approach-> may improve behavioural issues
Emotional therapy-> reminiscence, validation, supportive psychotherapy, sensory integration, simulated presence
Cognitive therapy-> reality orientation, cognitive re training
Stimulation-> art, music, pets, exercise, massage, aroma therapy
Psychoeducation

23
Q

Social treatments in dementia

A
Care giving management 
Modify living environment and lifestyle
Carers Assesment
Care package
1/3 residential care
24
Q

Differential diagnoses of cognitive impairment

A
Delirium 
Dementia
Mild cognitive impairment (no effect on ADL's) 
Subjective cognitive impairment (no objective change)
Stable impairment post insult
Depression -> trial antidepressants
Psychotic disorders
Intellectual disability 
Mood disorders
Disassociative disorders (younger, precipitators stressor) 
Factious disorders
Malingering 
Amnesiac syndrome (only memory effected)
25
Q

Definition of dementia

A

Chronic/persistent disorder of mental processes