Dementia - Block 2 Flashcards
What is the difference between delirium and dementia?
Delirium: attention and awareness, acute, reversible
Dementia: memory and cognitive function, slow, irreversible
What are the causes of delirium?
- Illness
- Infection
- Med
- Metabolic disorders
- Vitamin def
- Alcohol
- Hypothyroidism
Meds that can cause delirium?
- TCA
- Antihistamines
- Antipsych
- Benzo
- Sedatives
- Antiparkins
- Alcohol
- CS
What is dementia?
Chronic syndrome of cognitive deficits that effect memory, intellectual, and behavioral functions
What are the types of dementia?
AD
VD
Lewy body
Parkinson
Chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder that results from neurofibrillary tangles or beta amyloid plaques that interfere with cholinergic transmission and other neurochemical changes in the brain
AD
A form of dementia that typically presents with Parkinsonian features as well as symptoms such as falls and hallucinations
LBD
Most common type of dementia? Prevalence?
AD; increases with age, affect women > men
What is the patho behind AD?
- Neurofibrillary tangles from hyperphosphorylated tau proteins
- Neuritic plaques from b-amyloid1-42
- Loss in dendrites and synapses
- Neuronal atrophy
- Loss of cortical neurons
WHat are the neuochemical changes in AD?
Cholinerigc: decrease Ach -> cognitive and memory deficits
Glutaminergic: decrease glutamate -> cognitive and memory deficits
Serotonergic: Degeneration of serotonergic nuclei due toneurofibrillary tangles -> behavioral changes and psychosis
Noradrenergic: affects info processing
Changes in 5-HT and NE -> depression
What is the genetic predisposition of early and later onset of AD?
Early: APP-chromosone 21
* Presenillin 1 (chromosone 1 and 14)
Later: >65YO
* ApoE4 (chromosone 19)
Down’s syndrome who live lon will most likely develop AD
What are the RF of AD?
1. Increased age
2. Down’s syndrome
3. Cormorbidities
4. Depression
5. Decreased brain activity
What are the clinical presentations of AD?
Onset: gradual
Progression: progressive
Age:
* Early: ≤65YO
* Late: ≥65 YO
What are the warning signs of AD?
- Memory loss
- Challenges in solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion
- Visual and spatial unawareness
- Problems with speaking and writing
- Misplacing things
- Poor judgement
- Social withdrawl
- Mood/personality changes
What is the classification of mild AD?
MMSE: 21-30
* Cofusion
* Memory loss
* Personality changes
* Disorientaton
What is the classification of moderate AD?
MMSE: 10-20
* difficulty in completing everyday tasks
What is the classification of severe AD?
MMSE: ≤10
* Loss in speech
* Loss in appetite
* Loss in bladder control
* Caregiver dependence
How do we diagnose or cassify AD?
DSM-V TR: lists the causes and functional thresholds
WHat are your types of screening tools for cognitive impairment?
- Mini-cog
- MIS
- GPCOG
What are the issues of diagnosing AD?
- Insidious onset
- MUST ensure the problems are NOT due to other causes
- Important to diagnose or confirm diagnosis of AD as early as possible
- Diagnosis of exclusion (probable AD) until autopsy
What are the elements of a diagnostic work-up for AD?
- Cognitive family and med hx
- Mental status test (MMSE)
- Physical and neurological exams
- Lab
- Brain imaging
What is the most commonly used mental status test?
MMSE
What is the MMSE?
30 point test assessing orientation, memory, attention, recall, and lanuage
What is FAQ?
Assessment of activities of daily living (completion of normal tasks)
Dependent in 3 or more activies -> impairment
0-30 possible score
What is the clock draw test?
CDT of 4 approximates a MMSE of near 30 or mild cognitive impairment
CDT of 2 suggests moderate impairment with MMSE scores in high teens.
CDT of 1 reflects moderate-to-severe scores on MMSE (low teens)
What are the therapeutic goals of AD?
Slow the progression of the dx:
1. Enhance QoL
2. Improve the ability to complete ADLs
3. Improve mood and behavior
4. Slow down cognitive loss
When do we treat AD?
ASAP to maximize maintenance of cognitive function to carry ou ADLs
* Continue tx till they are bedridden or unable to carry out ADLs
What are the tx of AD?
Cognitive sx: AChEIs, NMDA receptor blockers
Behavioral sx: Non-pharm, pharm