Week 2 Dementia in the Older Adult Flashcards
describe the normal pathophysiological cognitive changes in older adults
loss of synaptic, which makes a memory impairment and makes memory slow but intact. and there is a mild decline in executive functioning.
what is executive functioning
initiating, monitoring, inhibiting behavior, and planning, problem solving, and using your working memory
what are pathologic cognitive changes
growth factors in the brain are inhibited, and you get death and loss of neurons. You can even get dementia
what is the continuum of aging and cognitive things?
normal aging, mild impairment, dementia BUT NOT EVERYONE FOLLOWS THIS
does everyone get dementia
no, it is pathologic
what are the three most common types of dementia
Alzheimers disease
vascular
Lewy body
what does dementia most commonly effect
memory and language
what other kinds of cognitive deficits do you get aside from deficits with memory
aphasia, apraxia, disturbance of executive functioning.
what is the most common form of dementia
alzheimers
when does Alzheimers start (onset)
30-60 years, or can be late onset.
what are the risk factors for Alzheimers
advancing age
positive family history
women over men
AA and hispanics.
what is the clinical presentation of Alzheimers disease
memory impairment, lapse in judgement, personality changes, depression, language issues, difficulty with ADLs, visual spacial problems, short tempered and hostile, loss of motor functioning like swallowing and B and B.
what is the second most type of dementia
vascular dementia
what are the risk factors for vascular dementia
HTN, smoking, hypercholesteremia, DM, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular.
what other impairments might you see with vascular dementia
memory, abstract thinking, judgment, impulse control, personality changes.
is vascular dementia abrupt or slow onset, and is it stable or does it fluctuate
abrupt onset, and fluctuating course.
what is Lewy body dementia and what is associated with it
progressive cognitive decline with fluctuations in alertness and attention, visual hallucinations, and Parkinson motor symptoms.
what is the clinical presentation of Lewy body dementia
gait and balance issues, visual spatial issues, poor executive functioning, sensitivity to antipsychotics, may have depression
what is delirium
sudden, rapid change in mental function, that is often confused with dementia
what is delirium associated with
medical illness, recovery from surgery, hospital admission
is delirium short or long term
short term, temporary
what might we see with delirium
shouting and resting, refusal to cooperate with medical care, potential to be injured falling, combative, pulling out lines and tubes.
what does treatment for delirium focus on
increased time OOB, walking, managing hydration, hypoxia, and nutrition
