Dementia and Alzheimer's disease Flashcards
dementia
group of symptoms that impair cognitive, social, and independent functioning
dementia changes
cognition, memory, language, behaviour, personality, mood
dementia diagnosis requirements
significant impairment in at least 2 brain functions without loss of consciousness
more affected gender - dementia
women
dementia prevalence vs heart failure
similar in ages 80+
prevalence
how many people have a disease
incidence
how many new cases of a disease
dementia and LTC
most seniors with dementia live outside of long term care or nursing homes
what causes dementia
number of disorders that affect the brain
results from nerve cell death and/or loss of communication among cells
dementia risk factors
age
alcohol/smoking
sedentary lifestyle/nutrition
cholesterol
mild cognitive impairment
genetics
high blood pressure
diabetes
atherosclerosis
down syndrome
Alzheimer’s Disease
neurogenerative disease marked by multiple cognitive deficits
how does Alzheimers disease begin
circumscribed and mild impairments in memory
how does Alzheimers disease progress
severe dysfunction in all aspects of cognition, behaviour, and functioning
what is found in Alzheimer’s disease
amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (cortex)
neurofibrillary tangles
abnormal tau proteins that form tangles and interfere with microtubule functioning and degrade neurons
amyloid plaques
abnormal levels of beta-amyloid proteins clump together to form plaques that collect between neurons and disrupts cell function
Alzheimers disease early stage
memory impairment
lapses of judgement
subtle changes in personality
Alzheimers disease mid stage
memory and language problems worsen
difficulty performing activities of daily living
Alzheimers disease late stage
language, reasoning, social behaviour impairments worsen
lose ability to control motor functions
lose bowel and bladder control
vascular / multi-infarct dementia
dementia caused by a stroke or series of small strokes creating reduced blood supply to the brain
difference between Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia
people with vascular dementia maintain personality and emotional responsiveness until later stages of the disease
incidence of MID
second most common cause of dementia in 65+
more men than women
Lewy body dementia
progressive dementia
impacts motor skills, spatial awareness, basic movement, memory, psychiatric indicators
personality changes
symptoms similar to Parkinsons disease
what causes Lewy body dementia
abnormal protein deposits in the brain (Lewy bodies) interrupt normal messaging
dementia oral complications - perio and caries
forgetting home care
loss of ability
pain/infection increases confusion
dementia oral complications - xerostomia
multipharma
ulcerations of mucosa
increased caries risk
problems with dentures
dementia oral complications
losing dentures
involuntary jaw/tongue movements (antipsychotics)
