Memory Problems Assessment Flashcards
How long does sensory memory last?
<1 sec
How long does short term memory last?
<1 minute
Long term memory is ____ - ____
life long
What name is given to long term memory which is i) conscious ii) unconscious?
i) Explicit memory.
ii) Implicit memory.
What is the difference between declarative and procedural memory?
Declarative memory is knowledge of fact and events ie. ‘knowing that . . .’
while
Procedural memory is knowledge of skills and tasks ie. ‘knowing how to . . .’
What is the difference between episodic and semantic memory?
Episodic memory is memory of events and experiences, while semantic memory is memory of facts and concepts
Describe the 4 steps of memory processing.
- Attenting
- Encoding
- Storage
- Retrieval
What is anterograde amnesia?
Difficulty in acquiring new material and remembering events since the onset of illness or injury.
What is retrograde amnesia?
Difficulty in remembering information prior to the onset of the illness or injury
Retrograde amnesia can be SHORT or LONG term. Give examples of conditions/situations which might result in each of these.
Short term – potentially after a head injury
Long term and extensive – korsakoffs and later stages of Alzheimer’s
Outline some typical reports of a patient with memory problems.
- Forgetting a message
- Losing track of a conversation
- Forgetting to do things
- Inability to navigate in familiar places
- Increased misplacing of things
- Struggling to remember names
What should you not forget to ask about in a patient who presents with memory problems?
Mood
Define dementia.
Dementia is a syndrome due to disease of the brain, usually of a chronic or progressive nature, in which there is disturbance of multiple higher cortical functions, including memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement
Consciousness is clouded in dementia.
FALSE
In terms of memory, how is Alzheimers defined?
Anterograde amnesia, then later by retrograde amnesia.
What should you ask about in presenting complaint?
- What are the difficulties – when and where do they happen?
- Day to day functioning?
- What has changed?
What should you ask about in past medical history?
- Medical problems.
- Strokes.
- Diabetes.
- Heart.
- Parkinson’s.
- Vascular Disease.
What should you discuss when asking about substance misuse?
- Prescribed drugs – what and do they adhere to it? Do they require prompts?
- Illicit drugs.
- Alcohol.
What 5 things should be assessed during cognitive screening?
- Memory.
- Attention and concentration.
- Executive functioning.
- Visuo-spatial functioning.
- Language.
What screen should also be considered?
A screen to rule out co-morbid psychological problems (ie. depression).
What are the 4 domains of the 4AT?
1 – Alertness (normal/mild sleepiness/clearly abnormal).
2 – AMT-4 (age, DOB, place, current year).
3 – Attention (months backwards).
4 – Acute or fluctuating course.
What is the 4AT used to screen for?
Mild-severe cognitive impairment
What is the 4AT?
A rapid assessment test for delirium
The MMSE should be used in the diagnosis of dementia in individuals with suspected cognitive impairment
TRUE
What are the scoring cut offs for the MMSE?
> 27/30 - fine!
<24/30 - supports dementia!
What is the MoCA?
A rapid screening instrument for mild cognitive dysfunction
Outline the 5 domains of the ACE-III.
Orientation and attention. Memory. Fluency. Language. Visuospatial functioning
Outline the cut-offs for the ACE-III.
Cut-off 88/100 (sensitivity 1.0 and specificity 0.96)
Cut-off 82/100 (sensitivity 0.93 and specificity 1.0)
When is the GPCOG used?
Community setting
What does the GPCOG test?
Orientation to time, short-term recall, clock-drawing
What does the clock drawing test give you information about?
- Executive functioning (planning).
- Visuospatial ability.
- Abstraction (ability to use symbols).
What does the clock test correlate with?
Overall cognitive functioning
