Dementia Flashcards
What is dementia?
An acquired neurological syndrome that is associated with persistent or progressive deterioration in intellectual functions. May be secondary to other diseases.
What are some early signs?
Disorientation, memory failure, lapses in judgement, misplacing things, changes in mood, difficulty performing mentally challenging tasks, apathy and loss of initiative.
T/F Impairments of memory, IQ, and language occur earlier in subcortical dementias than cortical dementias.
False.
What are the first problems to occur in the subcortical dementias?
Motor problems.
Subcortical dementia occurs in which diseases?
1) Parkinson’s
2) Huntington’s
3) Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (rare)
4) HIV
What is the dementia like for Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and progressive supranuclear palsy?
- PD= if dementia appears; mild-moderate; treated w/ medication (L-dopa)
- Huntington’s= pts are usually put into institutions at the end of life. At the end stage they become mute or profoundly demented.
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy= unintelligible; may become mute. (rare)
What kind of dementia is secondary to AIDS on some occasions?
AIDS dementia complex.
Spontaneous speech turns to single words or short phrases.
What are mixed dementias?
Caused by multiple infarcts @ different locations of the brain. It is a vascular dz.
T/F Alzhemier’s dz is an example of a subcortical dementia.
False; cortical.
What is Alzhemier’s characterized by?
Changes in neurons; neurofibrillary tangles-threadlike structures.
Neuritic plaques, granulovascular degeneration, decrease in ACH levels.
Cause = unknown
What are some differences b/w Alzhemier’s and Pick’s dz?
In Pick’s, memory and orientation last longer, but they have more language problems than Alzhemier’s.
What are pick cells?
What are pick bodies?
Enlarged neurons;
Globe-like formations in the neuron.
How can you differentiate aphasia and dementia?
1) nonverbal tests to assess intelligence and problem solving.
2) aphasia= sudden onset; dementia=gradual onset.
What is used to assess in the early stages of dementia?
Standardized cognitive tests.
What are some rating scales typically used for confirmed dementia patients?
1) Blessed Dementia Scale.
2) Global Deterioration Scale.
