Dementia & MCI Flashcards
1
Q
- Syndrome with cluster of symptoms
- Has different causes
- Is characterized by acquired, persistent impairment of multiple coginitive domains
- significantly alters communication, social interaction, occupational function and ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living
A
Dementia
2
Q
- A preclinical condition that may suggest a person is at risk for developing dementia
- a transition stage or condition of intermediate symptoms between cognitive changes associated with healthy aging and salient cognitive impairments seen in Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias
A
Mild Cognitive Impairment
3
Q
Two types of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) are:
A
- Amnestic MCI - initially affects memory only
- Non-amnestic MCI - other cognitive functions are initially affected (e.g. language or executive functions)
4
Q
Diagnostic Critieria for MCI
A
- Self-report of memory proglems, with corroboration from a family member or caregiver.
- Measurable memory impairment on standardized testing, outside range expected for age and education-matched healthy older adults
- No impairments in reasoning, general thinking skills, or ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)
5
Q
4 Types of Dementia
A
- Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
- Vascular Dementia (VaD)
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
- Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
“AL thought VaD knew LEWY at the FRONT”
6
Q
A
7
Q
Earliest symptoms of AD
A
- episodic memory deficits
- working memory deficits
- attention and executive function impairments
- language and communication impairments
- Lexical retrieval and discourse
8
Q
Causes of AD
A
- No single cause identified
- Risk factors:
- modifiable risk factors (nurture): diet, exercise controlled cardiovascular risk
- non-modifiable risk factures (nature): older age, positive family history, carrier status for the e4 allele of APOE gene
9
Q
Abilities in early Alzheimer’s Disease
(AD)
A
- Language & communication aspects affected earliest
- Lexical retrieval
- Discourse
- Abilities spared in early dementia
- Orientation to self and other persons
- Semantic memory
- ability to produce fluent sentences
- engage in conversation
- frequently follow 2-3 step commands
10
Q
Abilities in middle-stage AD
A
- Have ability to follow 1&2 step commands
- Can sustain attention for some time
- Can make relevant on topic statemetns or comments about tangible stimuli during conversation
11
Q
Abilities in later stage AD
A
- Can still attend to pleasant stimuli (e.g. music, sensory stimulation) for brief periods of time.
12
Q
- Second most common cause of dementia
- Affects Cortical (cerebrum) & subcortical (e.g. basal ganglia)
- Caused by ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, or circulatory disturbances that damage brain areas vital for cognitive functions
A
Vascular Dementia
13
Q
Causes & risk factors of Vascular Dementia
A
- Ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease
- cardiovascular disease
- circulatory disturbances that damage brain areas vital for cognitive function
- Risk factors:
- hypertension
- hypercholesterolemia
- Type II diabetes mellitus
- Prior history of stroke
- smoking
14
Q
- Dementia related to Parkinson’s Disease
- Shares pathological hallmark with PD of presence of Lewy Bodies
A
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
15
Q
When motor deficits precede cognitive impairment, it may be….
a. PD
b. DLB
A
Parkinson’s Disease (PD)