Neuro Flashcards
12 modifiable risk factors for dementia
education to a maximum of 11-12 years of age,
social isolation,
late-life depression,
mid-life obesity,
physical inactivity,
Alcohol consumption (>21 units/ week)
hearing loss,
diabetes,
smoking
mid-life hypertension
Air pollution
TBI
Responsive behaviors to dementia are behavioural and psychological manifestations of dementia (delusions, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, agitation, apathy) what is first line?
Non pharm options #1
Depression/ anxiety = structured psychological interventions ( CBT/ counseling)
Agitation = rec therapy, exercise, outdoor activity, sensory stimulation (massage, therapeutic touch, music)
Insufficient evidence = light therapy, aromatherapy,
What are pharmacological options for responsive behaviors to dementia?
For anxiety
For depression
For agitation
Sleep disturbances
Severe agitation
Always include family in decision making when pharm starts
Anxiety = psychomotor agitation, pacing, chanting
#1 SSRI ( citalopram, sertraline)
Depression
#1 SSRI ( except paroxetine)
Antipsychotics (reserve meds for agitation, psychosis when symptoms severe and dangerous)
#1 SGA (risperidone, olanzapine)
Sleep disturbances
#1 trazodone
If all else fails, benzos in severe agitation (LOT/ lorazepam, oxazepam, temazepam)
Prevention of dementia / non pharm approaches
Addressing known modifiable risk factors
Exercise 30min rigorous 3x weekly = minimal
Moderate intensity aerobic and resistance training, along with dance and mind body exercises (tai chi) = improves cognitive function
Mentally stimulating activities( games, computer use, social activity)
Diet = meditarranean
Identifying sleep apnea
Prevention of dementia pharm approaches
Deprescribing of sedative meds with high anticholinergic burden (can improve cognitive function)
HTN meds = to treat baseline HTN
Statins ( prevention remains controversial)
Vitamin E= not recommended
Vitamin B = beneficial only in those with elevated baseline levels of homocysteine
Alzheimer disease tx
cholinesterase inhibitors
mainstay of tx for cognitive and functional symptoms
Donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine = different modes of actions but same efficacy when used as mono tx
Donepezil #1 (used for all severities)
Mild-mod severities (rivastigmine, galantamine)
CI = with sick sinus syndrome, profound Bradycardia, prolonged QT interval (cholinesterase inhibitor small risk of QT prolongation)
Which med can you add to Alzheimer’s disease if intolerant to cholinesterase inhibitors ?
no cure.
NMDA receptor antagonists (memantine 5mg po OD)
Only if intolerant to above or to augment response of AChI
Treatment for vascular dementia (stepwise decline in cognition after CVA with cognitive deficits involving memory, executive function, language and attention)
1 donepezil
Cholinesterase inhibitors
(Others: rivastigmine, galantamine)
Pharm treatment for Lewy body dementia (early onset visual hallucinations, Daytime drowsiness, napping, fluctuating consciousness, disorganized speech, parkinsonian symptom, antipsychotic sensitivity
1 donepezil
Cholinesterase inhibitors
(Others: rivastigmine, galantamine)
Could consider NMDA if intolerant or want to augment (memantine 5mg)
Treatment for frontotemporal dementia? (Disinhibition, socially inappropriate behaviors, compulsive behaviors, lack of apathy, change in habits or beliefs, prominent language deficitss
Nonpharm is #1
Managing symptoms with emphasis on family and caregiver support = mainstay for treatment
Should you use antipsychotics for Lewy body dementia?
NO
Can worsen LBD
If needed quetiapine ***
Should you use cholinesterase inhibitors for frontotemporal dementia?
NO do not use or mementine
Tips for prescribing
Start at lowest dose and increase every 4 weeks as tolerated
Avoid treating the side effects of it, instead consider reducing the dose or switching to CI once the side effects have fully resolved after discontinuation of the initial agent
Side effects of CI
AE= GI, anorexia, wt loss, vivid dreams, tremors, vertigo, cholinergic effect (rhinnorhea, urinary frequency)
Very good at watching CTV
V-vivid dreams
G-GI
W-wt loss
C-cholinergic effect
T-tremors
V-vertigo
When to stop a cholinesterase inhibitor ?
Pt or caregiver decided due to non adherence to
Cognitive function or behavioral
Decline is more rapid on treatment that without
Intolerable side effects
Has progressed / terminally
Tapering of cholinesterase inhibitors?
Reduce by half of previous dose or stepping down through available dose formulations
- decrease dose every 4 weeks
If ++ a/e = abrupt discontinue
Monitor:
Severe symptoms l, agitation, aggression, hallucination within 1 week-> restart previous dose
Worsened cognition, behavior or psychological or function ( 2-6 wk)-> consider restarting previous dose
If 6wk-3mo, symptoms resurgence likely progression or re emergence
Cholinesterase inhibitors side effects
Think GI: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea >10%
<10%: bradycardia, syncope, dizziness, headache, sleep disturbance, fatigue, abdominal pain, weight loss, UTI, urinary incontinence, rhinitis.
Heart block (rare), seizures (rare), delirium (rare).
Cholinesterase drug interactions
Toxicity may be increased by paroxetine, erythromycin, prednisone, grapefruit juice
PEPG
Effectiveness may be reduced by inducers of CYP2D6 or CYP3A4, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin.
Mainstay of tx in responsive behaviors in dementia?
Nonpharm approaches
When to re-assess antipsychotics prescription for response behaviors to dementia
Q3-6months if symptoms subside then taper
What drug can also be used to decrease RBD
Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine
They have less risk of serious adverse events compared to antipsychotics
** overall benefit on behaviors appears to be small suggesting questionable evidence***
What is first line for anxiety symptoms in RBD
Non pharm first
Then SSRI (citalopram or sertraline)
What is first line for depressive/ sex inappropriate behaviors in RBD
Nonpharm #1
SSRI ( exception paroxetine)
Needs 6-8 weeks of tx to see improvement
What is first line sleep disturbances symptoms in RBD
Trazodone
Helps with sleep and sun downing