Geriatrics Flashcards
What are the characteristic symptoms of lewy body dementia?
Extrapyramidal side effects
Visual hallucinations
REM sleep disturbance
Worse with time
Treatment for lewy body dementia?
Leva dopa
Antipsychotics
What is vascular dementia?
Caused by multiple mini infarcts
What are the risk factors for vascular dementia?
HTN
DM
Hyperlipidaemia
Investigations for vascular dementia?
MMSE
Carotid USS
CT/MRI head
What tool is used to assess frailty?
PRISMA-7
What are the risks for osteoporosis?
Age
Female
Low mobility
Low BMI
RA
Long term corticosteroids
What t-score indicates osteopaenia?
-1 - -2.5
How is osteoporosis managed?
Calcium and vit D supplements
Bisphosphonates
HRT in women
What is the mnemonic for remembering the features of alzheimers?
4A’s
What do the 4 A’s in alzheimers stand for?
Amnesia (recent memories lost first)
Aphasia (word finding problems, speech muddled and disjointed)
Agnosia (recognition problems)
Apraxia (Inability to carry out skilled tasks despite normal motor function)
How does delirium present?
Disorientation
Hallucinations
Inattention
Memory problems
Change in mood or personality
Disturbed sleep
Name some causes of delirium?
Drugs and alcohol
Infection
Retention or urine or stool
Dehydration
Electrolyte imbalances particularly hypercalcaemia
What are the components of a confusion screen?
Urinalysis (UTI or hyperglycaemia)
Sputum culture (chest infection)
FBC (infection or anaemia)
Folate and B12
U&E (to identify AKI and electrolyte disturbance)
HbA1c (Hyperglycaemia)
Calcium
LFT’s
Inflammatory markers
Drug levels
TFT’s
CXR
ECG
What can the family and friends do to help manage a person with delirium at home?
Try simple reorientation strategies, such as reminding the person who they are and where they are.
Make sure there are easily visible clocks and calendars.