Dementia and Delirium Flashcards
Dementia
Major neurocognitive disorder
Blanket term to describe a cluster of symptoms including memory loss, confusion, poor judgement, language, executive function.
Causes of dementia
Alzheimers dz Vascular: stroke, tia Parkinsons Frontotemporal dementia Normal pressure hydrocephalus Dementia with lewy bodies Delerium/depression
Alzheimers Disease
Progressive neurological disorder that results in memory loss, personality changes, global cognitive dysfxn and functional impairments.
Prominent loss of short term memory early on
Alzheimers diagnosis
Diagnosis of exclusion
Clinical diagnosis based off history
MRI may show bilateral hippocampal atrophy
MMSE grading scale for AD
20 - 26: mild functional dependence
10 - 20: moderate, more immediate dependence
<10: severe, total dependence
MMSE of 24/30 is suggestive of?
Dementia
Pathology of AD
Amyloid rich senile plaques
Neurofibrillary tangles
Neuronal degeneration
Most frequent cause of death from AD
Aspiration pneumonia.
2nd is infected decubital ulcerations
Cholinesterase Inhibitor MOA
Stop the breakdown of Acth
Increase acth levels in the brain
May slow progression of symptoms for perhaps 6-12 months
Cholinesterase Inhibitor Types
Donepezil (Aricept)
Rivastigmine (Exelon)
Galantamine (Reminyl)
Doneoezil (Aricept)
Only FDA approved tx for any stage of alzheimers dz.
Well tolerated once daily dose
Rivastigmine (Exelon)
Approved for use in mild to moderate alzheimers.
BID dosing w/ food
Slowly titrate up to avoid SE
Memantine (Namenda)
NMDA receptor antagonists
Helps regulate glutamate activity
Approved for moderate to severe alzhemiers
Selegiline (Eldepryl)
Prevents breakdown of dopamine
May not be helpful, many SE
Antidepressants for AD
SSRI’s
Zoloft, paxil, celexa