Lewy Body Dementia Flashcards
1
Q
what is the characteristic pathological feature of lewy body dementia?
A
alpha-synuclein cytomplasmic inclusions (lewy body) in the substantia nigra, parlimbic and neocortical areas
2
Q
what are the features of lewy body dementia?
A
- progressive cognitive impairment
- parkinsonism
- visual hallucinations
3
Q
describe the progressive cognitive impariment seen in lewy body dementia
A
- occurs before parkinsonism
- congitive may be fluctuating
- early impairments in attention and executive function rather than just memory loss
4
Q
how is lewy body dementia diagnosed?
A
- usually clinical
- single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
5
Q
what is the managemnet of lewy body dementia?
A
- acetylocholinesterase inhibitors (E.g. donepezil, rivastigmine)
- memantine
6
Q
what drug type should be avoided in lewy body dementia?
A
neuroleptics
patients are extremely sensitive and may develop irreversible parkinsonism
