Pathological Conditions Associated with the Elderly

Question 1

Osteoporosis

Answer 1

Disease process that results in reduction of bone mass - failure of bone formation to keep pace with bone reabsorption and destruction

Question 2

Diagnostic criteria for OP

Answer 2

Bone mineral density at hip or spine that is greater than or equal to 2.5 SD below the young, normal mean

Question 3

Osteopenia is diagnosed and defined as what

Answer 3

bone mineral density 1.0 and 2.5 SD below the young, normal mean

Question 4

Fractures

Answer 4

High risk of fx in the elderly due to low bone density and multiple risk factors

Question 5

Vertebral compression fractures

Answer 5

Usually occur in lower thoracic, lumbar regions (T8-L3)

Question 6

Stress fractures

Answer 6

Common in elderly in the pelvis, proximal tibia, distal fibular, metatarsal shafts, foot

Question 7

OA

Answer 7

A noninflammatory progressive disorder of the joints; typically impacts the hips, knees, fingers, and spine

Question 8

Prevalence of OA

Answer 8

higher in males up to 45 and then by age 65 is 5x mroe likely in women

Question 9

Cachexia

Answer 9

A mutlifactorial degenerative illness characterized by extreme weight loss and malnutrition, mm atrophy, fatigue, and weakness

Question 10

Cachexia is associated with what

Answer 10

Chronic disease like cancer, HIV/AIDS, COPD, CHF, kidney failure…

Question 11

Neuro pathology

Answer 11

Stroke

Parkinsons

Question 12

Delirium

Answer 12

Fluctuating attention state causing temporary confusion and loss of mental function
Acute disorder that has potential to be reversible

Question 13

Dementia

Answer 13

An acquired disorder of cog and bx impairment causing dysfunction in daily living

Question 14

Characteristics of dementia

Answer 14

Deterioration of intellectual function 
Disturbances in higher cortical functions 
Memory impairment
Personality changes
Alertness is abnormal
Sleep fragmented

Question 15

Alzheimers type dementia

Answer 15

irreversible, accounts for 60-80%

most common cause of dementia

Question 16

Diagnosis of AD

Answer 16

Biomarkers tests - lumbar puncture will show elevated tau and phosphorylated tau, low amyloid levels
MRI scan

Question 17

Stages of AD - Preclinical

Answer 17

individuals have measurable changes in brain CSF and blood biomarkers without noticeable sx

Question 18

Stages of AD - mild

Answer 18

Characterized by mild but measureable changes in cog abilities noticeable to person affected and family members
able to carry out normal ADL

Question 19

Stages of AD - mdoerate

Answer 19

characterized by noticeable memroy, thinking, and bx symptoms that impair a persons ability to function in daily life

Question 20

Stages of AD - Severe

Answer 20

Characterized by loss in ability to communicate, recognize others, and complete dependence

Question 21

Vascular dementia

Answer 21

10% of dementia

large and small vessel infarcts in both gray and white matter of brain

Question 22

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy

Answer 22

Acquired, progressive degenerative brain disease resulting from repetitive head trauma

Question 23

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy - pathophys changes

Answer 23

Tau positive neurofibrillary tangles

Neurophil threads and neocortical diffuse amyloid plaques with ot without neuritis plaques

Question 24

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy s/s

Answer 24

Recurrent HA, dizzy
Agression, dep, anx, suicide
Impaired judge and impulsive
Memory loss and confusion
Progressive demetia
Movement disorder

Question 25

Dementia with lew bodies

Answer 25

some symptoms of AD with sleep disturbances, visual distrubances, slowness, and other PD movement features

Question 26

Creutzfeldt Jakob disease

Answer 26

rare and rapidly fatal disorder with memroy, bx changes, and incoordination; results from protein disorder

Question 27

Normal pressure hydrocephalus

Answer 27

Symptoms include memory loss, difficulty walking, inability to control urination, results from impaired CSF with build up of fluid in brain and inc brain pressures

Question 28

Down sndrome

Answer 28

will demonstrate accelerated aging and AD tyoically in late 40s or 50s

Question 29

Mini mental

Answer 29

Score below 24 ou of 30 is indicative of mental decline/dementia

Question 30

Depression

Answer 30

a disorder characterized by depresed mood and lack of interest or pleasure in all activities and other associated sx lasting for at least 2 wks