Geriatric Medicine Flashcards
1
Q
Lewy body dementia mushkies?
A
- 20% dementia
- Characteristic pathological feature is alpha synuclein cytoplasmic inclusions (Lewy bodies) in the substantia nigra, paralimbic and neocortical areas
2
Q
What percentage of pts with Alzheimers have Lewy bodies?
A
40%
3
Q
Lewy Body dementia features?
A
- Progressive cognitive impairment = in contrast to Alzheimer’s, early impairments in attention and executive function rather than just memory loss, cognition may be fluctuating, usually develops before parkinsonism
- Parkinsonism
- Visual hallucinations (delusions and non-visual hallucinations may also be seen)
4
Q
Lewy body dementia Dx?
A
- Usually clinical
- DATSCAN (SPECT), 90% sensitivity and 100^% specificity
5
Q
Lewy Body dementia RX?
A
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine) and memantine
- Avoid neuroleptics as may develop irreversible parkinsonism
6
Q
What is included by Lewy Body Dementia?
A
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
- Parkinson’s disease dementia (cardinal features before dementia)
7
Q
DLB sleep problems?
A
REM sleep disorder = violently acting out their dreams as many as 40 years before the onset of dementia symptoms
8
Q
Alzheimer’s disease risk factors?
A
- Age
- FHx
- AD = mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (chromosome 21), presenilin 1 (chromosome 14) and presenilin 2 (chromosome 1) genes are thought to cause the inherited form
- Apoprotein E allele E4 (encodes cholesterol transport protein)
- Caucasian
- Down’s syndrome
9
Q
Alzheimer’s pathology?
A
- Macroscopic = widespread cerebral atrophy, particularly involving hippocampus and cortex
- Microscopic = Type A Beta Amyloid Plaques, Tau neurofibrillary tangless, hyperphosphorylated Tae
- Biochecmical = deficit of acetylcholine from damage to an ascending forebrain projection
10
Q
Neurofibrillary tangles mushkies?
A
- Paired helical filaments are partly made from a protein called tau
- Tau is a protein that interacts with tubulin to stabilise microtubules and promote tubulin assembly into microtubules
- In AD tau proteins are excessively phosphorylated, impairing its function
11
Q
Alzheimer’s management?
A
- Non pharmacological
- Pharmacological
12
Q
AD Non-pharmacological management?
A
- Range of activities to promote wellbeing
- Cognitive stimulation therapy for mild and moderate
- Consider group reminiscence therapy and cognitive rehabilitation
13
Q
AD Pharmacological management?
A
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors 1st line for mild to moderate (Donepezil, Rivastigmine, Galantamine)
- Memantine (NMDA receptor antagonist) 2nd line
14
Q
Memantine AD indications?
A
- Moderate Alzheimer’s intolerant/contraindicated to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
- Add on drug for moderate or severe Alzheimer’s
- Monotherapy in severe Alzheimer’s
15
Q
AD non-cognitive symptoms Rx?
A
- Dont recommend antidepressants
- Antipsychotic only used if risk of harm to self or others, or if in severe distress