Hon--Dementia, Movement Disorders Flashcards
Causes of dementia–degenerative
- Alzheimers (80%)
- Lewy body disease
- Parkinson’s
- Frontotemporal Lobar degeneration
- Progressive supranuclear palsy
- corticobasilar degeneration
- Multiple systems atrophy
- Huntington’s Disease
- Olivopontocerebellar degeneration
Causes of dementia–Vascular
- Multiple infarction
- single stroke
- biswanger’s disease (chronic hypertension)
- vasculitis
- subarachnoid hemorrhage
Causes of dementia–infectious
- fungal meningitis
- syphillis
- AIDS
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- post-herpes simplex encephalitis
Causes of dementia–psychiatric
- Depression
- Alcohol abuse
- Drug related
- Personality disorder
- Anxiety disorder
Causes of dementia–toxic/metabolic
Vitamin B12 deficiency Thyroid deficiency System failure (liver, renal, cardiac, resp) Heavy metals Toxins
Causes of dementia–traumatic
- Subdural hematoma
- chronic traumatic encephalopathy
- anoxic brain injury
Causes of dementia–tumors
- glioblastoma/astrocytoma
- lymphoma
- metastatic tumor
Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
- dementia established by clinical exam and mini mental status exam
- deficits in 2 or more areas of cognition
- progressive worsening of memory and other cognitive functions
- no disturbance of consciousness
- onset–most >65 years of age
- absence of systemic disorders or other brain diseases
Supported findings in diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
- progressive deterioration of cognitive functions
- impaired activities of daily living, altered behavior
- family history
- normal LP
- EEG–normal or generalized slowing
- progressive atrophy! MRI or CT
Treatment of Alzheimer’s
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine)
- NMDA R antagonist (memantine)
Mild Cognitive impairment (MCI)
- memory complaint (often noted by patient–vs Alzheimer’s when patient thinks nothing is wrong)
- abnormal memory for age, but does not meet criteria for dementia–normal cognitive function, normal activities of daily living
- precursors to Alzheimer’s–5x more likely to develop
- treat–AchEl–slow progression to Alzheimer’s
criteria for vascular dementia
- focal signs on neuro exam
- evidence of cerebrovascular disease
Vascular dementia–presence of 1 or more
- onset of dementia within 3 months after stroke
- abrupt deterioration in cognitive function
- fluctuating, stepwise progression of cognitive deficits
Lewy body–tetrad of symptoms
- dementia
- Parkinsonian symptoms (bradykinesia, rigidity, no tremor)
- Prominent psychotic symptoms (visual hallucinations)
- extreme sensitivity to antipsychotic agents
Lewy body disease differs from Alzheimer’s how?
- progresses more rapidly
- unexplained periods of increased confusion that lasts days to weeks and then is better
- psychotic symptoms much earlier–visual hallucinations–animals, children
Classic delusions in Alzheimer’s disease–when?
- late in disease!
- husband thinks wife is having an affair
- thinks someone is stealing from them
Lewy body disease (vs Parkinson’s)
- cortical Lewy bodies
- dementia early in illness
- resting tremor is absent
- autonomic dysfunction prominent
- hallucinations common in absence of antiparkinsonian drugs
Parkinson’s disease (vs Lewy body disease)
- midbrain Lewy bodies
- dementia late in disease
- resting tremor
- autonomic dysfunction only sometimes
- hallucinations only in response to antiparkinsonian drugs
Frontotemporal degeneration
-dementia–deterioration of social skills and changes in personality, with impairment of intellect, memory and language
Frontotemporal degeneration–core symptoms
- loss of memory
- lack of spontaneity
- difficulty in thinking or concentrating
- disturbances of speech