Dementias Overview

Question 1

Diagnostic goal

Answer 1

To determine if cognitive changes are above and beyond what we expect from normal aging

Question 2

Disease process

Answer 2

Specific pathological changes in the brain associated with a given disease process

Question 3

Dementia

Answer 3

Collection of cognitive/personality/behavior changes associated with a disease process
Umbrella term for loss of memory and other thinking abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life

Question 4

Atrophy

Answer 4

Neuronal loss leading to loss of brain volume

Question 5

Is it possible to have pathological changes without cognitive/personality/behavior changes at a given time point?

Answer 5

Yes, may develop later or may not

Question 6

Dementia percentage breakdown

Answer 6

Alzheimer’s - 60-80%
Lewy Body - 5-10%
Vascular - 5-10%
Frontotemporal - 5-10%
Parkinson’s and Huntington’s

Question 7

Mixed dementia

Answer 7

Dementia from more than one cause (subcortical and cortical)

Question 8

Cortical dementa

Answer 8

Executive functioning, memory, language, visuoperceptual, personality/behavior
Alzheimer’s
Frontotemporal

Question 9

Subcortical dementia

Answer 9

Parkinson’s
Huntington’s