Older Adults Flashcards
What’s the most common side-effect of donepezil?
Nausea
What’s the action of Donepezil?
specific and reversible inhibitor of AChE
What’s the action of Galantamine?
- selective, competitive and reversible inhibitor of AChE
- enhances the effect of acetylcholine on nicotinic receptors
What’s the action of Rivastigmine?
- AChE inhibitor
- butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor
What’s the action of Memantine?
NMDA receptor antagonist (blocks the effects of pathologically elevated levels of glutamate that may lead to neuronal dysfunction)
What is the NICE recommendation for managing mild to moderate Alzheimer’s?
The three acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine
What is the NICE recommendation for using Memantine in Alzheimer’s?
- intolerance of or contraindication to AChE inhibitors
- severe Alzheimer’s
What are the scores on the MMSE for the different categories of Alzheimer’s?
Mild = MMSE 21-26 Moderate = MMSE 10-20 Severe = MMSE 0-10
Which test would uncover test would uncover a constructional apraxia?
Clock drawing test
Which characterises constructional apraxia?
the inability to copy drawings or to manipulate objects to form patterns or designs.
Which functions are examines in a clock drawing test?
- Visuospatial ability
- Motor function
- Attention
- Comprehension
- constructional apraxia
What is Ropinirole?
A dopamine agonist used in the treatment of Parkinson’s
What are the side effects of Ropinirole?
pathological gambling and hypersexuality
What is the strongest risk factor for dementia?
Age
What % of dementia does Alzheimer’s account for?
60-70%
What % of Alzheimer’s does vascular dementia account for?
15-20%
What are the risk factors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease?
- Age
- Family history
- Down syndrome
- apolipoprotein E4 allele
- Head trauma - especially if associated with loss of consciousness
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- CVA
- High cholesterol
- Lower educational level
- Female gender
On neurological examination in Parkinson’s which clinical findings are found?
- rigidity (usually one sided)
- bradykinesia (slowing of movement)
- resting pill rolling tremor
- Mask-like Face
- shuffling gait
Where is the principle abnormality in Parkinson’s?
degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra
What is the chemical deposited in abnormal dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s?
alpha synuclein
they are referred to as Lewy bodies
What’s the frequency of tremor in Parkinson’s?
5Hz
What’s the most useful scan when trying to diagnose Lewy body dementia?
DaT-SCAN (SPECT)
What is a finding on DaT-SCAN (SPECT) in people with Alzheimer’s?
temporal and parietal hypoperfusion
What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia on DaT-SCAN (SPECT)?
- DLB shows lower perfusion in occipital cortex
- AD shows lower perfusion in medial temporal areas (