Chronic Pain and Alzheimers Flashcards
What is dementia?
Often occurs in older adults. Umbrella term to describe range of conditions which cause damage/change to brain. Caused by treatable/non treatable diseases. Not curable.
Risk factors for dementia?
Smoking, cardiac dysrhythmia, HTN, diabetes, CAD, hypercholesterolemia, genetics, older age, hx of depression, head injury, lack of intellectual stimulation.
What are amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles?
These disrupt brain function. NT- twisted protein threads that can damage neuron’s
Amyloid plaques- aggregates of misfolded proteins that form in spaces between nerve cells
Early signs of dementia?
Memory loss that affects job skills, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language. Disorientation to place/time, poor judgement, change in mood/personality.
Moderate stages of dementia?
Increasing memory loss, may start to not recognize family, can’t continue to drive, difficulty with speech, challenges with ADLs, require supervision for safety, may become impulsive, purposeful walking (wandering), cues for tasks.
Late stage of dementia?
Significant memory loss, unable to communicate, can’t perform ADLs, may be unresponsive, require total care, refuse food (sign of end stage), meds aren’t useful at this point.
What does diagnosis of exclusion mean?
Rule out other possible disease to diagnose dementia, exclude other things that mimic symptoms that someone has.
How else to diagnose dementia?
Brain imaging test to assess dementia, patient history (blood work, cognitive screening, any depression). Only autopsy provides a definitive diagnosis.
Drug therapy treatment for dementia?
Doesn’t cure but slows down cognition changes (donepezil, memantine), behaviour meds, and can use anti-depressants. Shouldn’t be our initial treatment though.
Non pharmacological care interventions for dementia?
Moderate exercise, music, pets (calming), light therapy (helps with sleep/wake cycles).
What is the most common reason people seek healthcare?
Pain
What are the problems with pain?
Lack of knowledge, lack of services, misconceptions, failure to manage pain, lack of inter professional collaboration.
Physiological impact of pain?
Prolonged stress, increased HR/BP/O2, decreased GI functions, delayed healing, physical immobility.
Psychosocial effects of pain and financial?
Poor sleep, inability to work, anxiety, fear, depression, impaired sense of self
Financial- loss of income
What is chronic pain and types?
Persistent pain that lasts beyond acute illness/injury. More than 3-6 months. Described as invisible condition (doesn’t show up on X rays). Primary CP- pain is disease itself. Secondary CP- pain is secondary to disease. Can be things like headaches, migraines, low back pain, arthritis…
