How do we remember Flashcards
What are the essential components of clinically evaluating Alzheimer’s and other dementias?
Key components include obtaining a corroborative history, assessing multiple cognitive domains, and evaluating functional impact. This helps in differentiating dementia from other cognitive disorders and identifying atypical presentations.
What are some differential diagnoses to consider when evaluating dementia?
Differential diagnoses include delirium, potentially reversible causes of dementia, psychiatric disorders, and vascular cognitive impairment, which require specific investigations and careful history-taking to differentiate.
What are some relevant investigations for assessing dementia?
Routine blood tests (e.g., thyroid function, B12/folate levels) and brain imaging, such as MRI, are essential for identifying underlying causes and ruling out other etiologies of cognitive impairment.
What red flags suggest an atypical cause of dementia?
Red flags include rapid progression, young age of onset, seizure activity, involuntary movements, focal neurological deficits, prominent fluctuations, and high-risk behaviors or exposures (e.g., immunosuppression, IV drug use)
Describe the epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Alzheimer’s is the most common dementia, followed by vascular dementia. Dementia prevalence increases with age, and modifiable risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes) can impact the risk.
Explain the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease according to the amyloid hypothesis.
The amyloid hypothesis posits that amyloid plaques disrupt neuronal function, leading to cell death. However, Alzheimer’s may result from multiple mechanisms, making it a complex neurodegenerative process.
What is the role of the medial temporal lobe in memory formation?
The medial temporal lobe, particularly the hippocampus, is crucial for memory consolidation, which is essential for forming new episodic memories.
What cognitive domains are assessed in dementia evaluation, and why are they important?
Domains include attention, executive function, memory, language, perceptual-motor skills, and social cognition. Evaluating these helps determine the specific dementia type and severity, and guides targeted interventions
How does the neuroscience of memory retrieval relate to dementia symptoms?
Memory retrieval is thought to involve a network of brain regions. In dementia, damage to these networks impairs recall and affects daily functioning, highlighting the importance of preserved neural pathways for effective retrieval.
