Neurologic Disorders Flashcards
Delirium
describe
- acute, confused state that occurs in response to a trigger
Delirium
common triggers for delirium
8
- withdrawal
- alcohol/drug intoxication
- med side effects
- infection
- electrolyte abnormality
- high/low glucose
- sleep deprivation
- neurologic disorders
Delirium
signs & sx
4 likely sx, 5 +/- sx
- acute, rapid onset
- confusion
- poor short-term memory
- fluctuates between awake, drowsy, agitation
- +/- anxiety, irritability, visual hallucinations, restlessness, insomnia
Delirium
dx
nothing specific, just need to find cause (electrolytes, metabolic issues, intoxication)
Delirium
tx
treat the underlying cause
Delirium
describe sundowning
type of delirium at night associated w/ pre-existing dementia
Wernicke Encephalopathy
pathophys
- thiamine deficiency (biologically active form of vitamin B1)
Wernicke Encephalopathy
risk factors
5
- dialysis
- AIDS
- hyperemesis gravidarum
- anorexia
- bariatric surgery
Wernicke Encephalopathy
signs/sx
3
- confusion
- ataxia
- tingling in fingers/toes
Wernicke Encephalopathy
PE findings
3
- nystagmus
- ophthalmoplegia (eyes can’t move together in direction of muscle weakness)
- peipheral neuropathy
Wernicke Encephalopathy
Dx
- thiamine diphosphate
- must use whole blood for testing
Wernicke Encephalopathy
tx
- 200-500mg thiamine hydrochloride IV over 30 mins TID for 2-3 days
Wernicke Encephalopathy
what not to do prior to thiamine IV
- do not give IV glucose before thiamine because it can make the sx worse
Wernicke Encephalopathy
when does Korsakoff Syndrome occur
- severe Wernicke Encephalopathy for extended period of time
Korsakoff Syndrome
sx
- anterograde and retrograde amnesia
- delirium
Korsakoff Syndrome
tx
thiamine, but may take longer to heal/may have permanent damage
Dementia
4 main types
- Alzheimer’s
- Vascular
- Dementia w/ Lewy Bodies
- Frontotemporal
Dementia
3 largest risk factors
3
- age
- family hx
- vascular disease
Dementia
describe
- chronic deterioration of mental functions
- progressive intellectual decline
Dementia
when is typical onsest?
- begins at age 60
- increases w/ age
Dementia
modifiable risk factors
9
- low education level
- midlife HTN
- midlife obesity
- hearing loss
- late life depression
- DM
- sedentary
- smoking
- social isolation
Dementia
Associated w/ dementia but not definitive causes
7
- a fib
- alcoholism
- CKD
- TBI
- obstructive sleep apnea
- air polluation
- gait impairment
Dementia
what is first sign most often?
functional impairment (difficulties planning meals, managing finances, taking meds, driving)
Dementia
list the 6 cognitive domains
- complex attention
- executive function
- learning and memory
- language
- perceptual-motor function
- social cognition or behavior
Dementia
describe complex attention domain
staying focused with distractions or parallel tasks
Dementia
describe executive function domain
reasoning and planning
Dementia
describe learning and memory domain
retaining new info, recalling old info
Dementia
describe language domain
word finding, comprehension
Dementia
describe perceptual motor function domain
spatial ability, orientation, ability to recognize objects & manipulate them
Dementia
describe social cognition or behavior domain
- maintaining appropriate behavior on social norms
- recognizing social cues
- making safe decisions
Dementia
what are considered basic ADLs
6
- bathing
- dressing
- toileting
- mobility
- continence
- feeding
Dementia
what are considered instrumental ADLs
6
- phone use
- shopping
- food preparation
- housekeeping
- laundry
- transportation, med use, finances
Dementia
what are considered advanced ADLs
6
- recreation
- spiritual pursuits
- education/training
- work
- intimacy
- family caregiving
Dementia
H&P components
- PMH & SH
- FH
- ability to perform ADLs
- physical impairments (new onset balance problems, gait problems, vision problems, incontinence)
- mental status exam, memory testing
Alzheimer’s
Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
10
- memory loss that disrupts daily life
- challenges in planning or solving problems
- difficulty completing familiar tasks
- confusion w/ time or place
- trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- new problems w/ words in speaking or writing
- misplacing things & losing ability to retrace steps
- decreased or poor judgement
- withdrawal from work or social activities
- changes in mood/personality
Alzheimer’s
Alarm signs of Alzheimer’s
3
- inability to perform personal self care
- impaired judgement w/ potential to harm self or others
- concerns about personal safety or ability to seek help in unsafe situations
Alzheimer’s
Dx
3 components
- new MMSE or MOCA-B compared to baseline
- r/o other causes: hypoglycemia, CBC, CMP, TSH, VitB12
- Brain MRI
Alzheimer’s
findings of MRI
4
- generalized and focal atrophy
- white matter lesions
- reduced hippocampal volume
- medial temporal lobe atrophy
Alzheimer’s
goal of tx
3 components
- slow progression
- reduce mortality
- improve quality of life for pt or family
Alzheimer’s
Tx in mild to mod disease
- cholinesterase inhibitor (galantamine first choice, then rivastigmine or donepezil)
- tx of other disorders PRN (hearing loss, vision disturbances)
- encourage socialization, brain games
Alzheimer’s
Tx for moderate to severe disease
- galantamine + memantine for additional cognitive benefit
Vascular Dementia
cause
- multi-focal ischemic changes
- ex: SAH, ICH, large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolic event, small vessel dz
Vascular Dementia
describe progression
- after first event: sudden onset of deficits
- stepwise/progressive cognitive deficits w/ each stroke
Vascular Dementia
signs & sx
4
- physical signs of a stroke
- gait disturbance/balance issues
- urinary frequency, urgency, incontinence
- personality/mood changes (depression) followed by psychosis
Vascular Dementia
Dx & what is seen
- MRI or CT
- shows evidence of cerebrovascular disease
Vascular Dementia
tx
3
- not really successful
- can try cholinesterase inhibitors or NMDA but limited evidence for use
- prevention is key (management of HTN, hyperlipidemia)
Frontotemporal Dementia
what behavioral issues may be seen
6
- lack of empathy
- doesn’t follow social norms
- lack of abstract thought and executive function
- impulsive/apathetic
- focal right frontal atrophy
- memory not typically impacted
Dementia
what is pseudodementia
- occurs in severely depressed people
- involves memory loss and confusion which improves w/ treating depression
Dementia
why should memory drills be avoided?
can cause frustration and does not help pt regain lost skills
Dementia
what to use for sleep aid? what to avoid?
- trazodone
- anti-histamines or benzos (can cause delirium)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
describe
rapidly progressing dementia and movement disorder
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
dx
- usually via brain biopsy post mortem
- MRI or EEG while alive
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
MRI findings
cortical ribboning pattern
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
EEG findings
sharp wave complexes