Dementia Flashcards
What is dementia?
Neurodegenerative syndrome that causes memory loss, difficulties w/ thinking, problem-solving and ADL’s
What are some of the clinical presentations of dementia? (4)
- Memory loss
- Difficulty w/ language
- Inability to perform complex motor tasks, recognise faces
- Personality changes
What non-cognitive symptoms indicate late disease? (3)
- Agitation
- Aggression
- Apathy
What would you see on imaging/ pathology for Alzheimer’s dementia? (2)
- Hippocampal atrophy ==> cortical atrophy
- Abnormal tau proteins
What would you expect to see on imaging/ pathology for vascular dementia?
Brain damage from cerebrovascular disease
What would you expect to see on imaging/ pathology in Lewy body dementia? (2)
- Deposition of abnormal proteins
- Associated w/ Parkinson’s Disease
What would you expect to see on imaging/ pathology in frontotemporal dementia?
Atrophy of frontotemporal lobes
What are the signs + symptoms of Alzheimer dementia? (4)
- Aphasia
- Agnosia
- Apraxia
- Amnesia
What is the history of a pt w/ Alzheimer’s dementia?
Gradual onset
What is the history of a pt w/ vascular dementia?
Abrupt or gradual onset
What are the signs + symptoms of vascular dementia?
Stepwise deterioration w/ short periods of stability
What is the history of a pt w/ Lewy body dementia?
Insidious onset
What are the signs + symptoms of Lewy body dementia? (3)
- Fluctuating cognition
- Impairment of visual-spatial ability
- Paranoia, hallucinations REM-sleep behaviour disorder
What is the history of a pt w/ frontotemporal dementia?
Insidious onset w/ rapid progression
What are the signs + symptoms of frontotemporal dementia?
Behavioural and personality changes
