Dementia Flashcards
What are the three memory systems?
- Sensory Memory
- Short-term Memory
- Long-term Memory
Function of sensory memory
Receives information through the five senses and passes that information onto short term memory
Function of short term memory
Receives information from the sensory memory
How long does information stay in short term memory?
15-20 seconds
Function of long term memory
Recalls information gathered over time and is used to process information
How long does information stay in long term memory?
A few days —> Life
What are examples of dementia symptoms in newly diagnosed mild cognitive impairment patients?
- Impaired orientation to time or place
- Impaired recent memory
- Repeatedly asking questions
- Misplacing items repeatedly, getting lost
- Forgetting names
- Problems with conversation
- Impaired judgment
- Loss of interest in hobbies
- Decreased ability to perform activities of daily living
- Altered mood/behavior
What are the vascular causes of dementia?
- Multiple Infarcts
- Binswanger’s
- CADASIL
What is Binswanger’s Disease
AKA subcortical leukoencephalopathy; this is a small vessel vascular dementia caused by damage to the white brain matter. Risk factors are HTN and old age
What is CADASIL?
Cerebral Autosomal-Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a hereditary stroke disorder
What are the inflammatory causes of dementia?
MS and Vasculitis
What are infectious causes of dementia?
Syphilis, Lyme, HIV and other viruses, fungal diseases
What are physical causes of dementia?
Hydrocephalus, trauma
How many Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s?
4 Million
What percentage of patients over 85 have symptoms of Alzheimers?
50%
Ratio of people over 65 affected by Alzheimers
1/10
What are risk factors for Alzheimers?
Advanced age, family Hx
Describe the timeline progression of Alzheimers symptoms and death
Diagnosis - Loss of functional independence (2yrs) - Behavioral problems (3yrs) - Nursing home placement (3yrs) - Death (4-9yrs)
Diagnostic criteria for Alzheimers
- Memory Impairments of gradual and progressive onset
- Impairment in social or occupational functioning
- At least 1 of aphasia, apraxia, agnosia or disturbances in executive functioning
Neurochemical changes associated with Alzheimers
Decreased synthesis of Acetylcholine
Regions of the brain where Acetylcholine is important for memory formation
- Hippocampus
- Cerebral Cortex
- Amygdala
Describe the role of Nicotinic receptors in Alzheimers
Stimulating Nicotinic receptors improves memory
Presynaptic nicotinic receptors modulate the release of multiple neurotransmitters important for memory and mood (ACh, Glutamate, Serotonin and Noradrenaline)
Gross brain appearance in advanced Alzheimers
Cortical atrophy
Characteristic finding in a coronal section of the brain in a patient with Alzheimers
Hydrocephalus ex vacuo (ventricular dilation due to loss of cortex)
What are senile plaques?
Regions of fragmented neuritis (neuronal processes) within the gray matter of the cerebral cortex
What cells can be involved in senile plaques?
Neurons, Astrocytes, Microglia
What stain is used to evaluate senile plaques?
Bielschowsky silver stain
What is a neurofibrillary tangle?
Neurons with intracytoplasmic proliferation of twisted filaments which appear as tangles
Where are neurofibrillary tangles typically found?
In the pyramidal cells of the Hippocampus and Cerebral Cortex
fMRI in an Alzheimers patient may show
Decreased activity in the Hippocampus
What is the earliest deficit in Alzheimers
Physiologic lesion in the hippocampus
Progression of deficits in Alzheimers
- Memory/Language
- Memory/Language + Visuospatial
- Memory/Language + Visuospatial + Abstract Reasoning
What is the standard treatment for AD?
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
What drugs may be used to treat the behavioral symptoms of AD?
Antipsychotics and Antidepressants
What are the four AChEIs used in AD?
- Tacrine
- Donepezil (Aricept)
- Rivastigmine (Exelon)
- Galantamine (Reminyl)
Which AChEI’s absorption are affected by food?
Tacrine (decreased) and Rivastigmine (increased b/c absorption slowed)
Which AChEI is available as a patch to give a more steady dose with fewer side effects?
Rivastigmine
Which AChEI is not metabolized in the liver?
Rivastigmine
What are some additional treatments for AD other than AChEIs?
- Nemenda (Memantine)- antagonizes NMDA receptors
- Vitamin E- Antioxidant
- NSAIDs and HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, red wine
- Smoking cessation and exercise
Gait apraxia (magnetic gait), dementia and urinary incontinence suggests
Normal Pressue Hydrocephalus (Wet, wacky and wobbly)
How is the Dx of NPH made?
Clinical + imaging and diagnostic spinal tap
Rx for NPH?
Large volume spinal taps + shunts