Mixed-Variety Dementias

Question 1

What are Mixed-Variety dementias?

Answer 1

Dementias caused by a substantial degree of both cortical and subcortical damage.
> Clinical profiles feature symptoms of both cortical and subcortical dementias, depending on areas of damage

Question 2

Vascular Dementia

Answer 2

AKA Multi-infarct dementia
» Second-most common type of dementia overall
» Affects multiple areas over time

Question 3

Cause of Vascular Dementia

Answer 3

Cumulative effects of many small strokes that cause both cortical and subcortical lesions

> > Affects mutliple areas over time as consquences of several small stroke accumulate

Question 4

Brain areas affected by vascular dementia

Answer 4

Some cases:
> Vascular damage is mainly cortical, more frequent in frontal lobe

In other cases:
> Lesions occur in small blood vessels that supply subcortical areas
> Esp. in people with arterial (? ask prof)

Question 5

What evidence is there for Vascular Dementia?

Answer 5

> Long-standing medical hystory of arterial hypertension
Focal neurological signs that suggest a stroke
MRI scans revealing specific and multiple infarcts of the cortex in either the white or gray matter

Question 6

Vascular Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s

Answer 6

Similarities:
> Neurophysical profile

Differences:
> Vascular dementia occurs abruptly
> It has a stepwise instead of gradual course
> Pattern of impairement can fluctuate, such as improving over time (or the opposite)