Dementia Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Most common dementia affecting over 65s typically. Caused by a build up of protein in the brain (amyloid beta and tau)
Describe the link between Alzheimer’s neuropathology and presentation
Cell death and difficulties communicating begins in the hippocampus (memory area). Degeneration spreads to language areas leading to speech problems and then to frontal lobes (decision making)
How do we treat Alzheimer’s disease?
Symptomatic treatment
Cholinesterase inhibitors - increased ACh for cell communication
What is vascular dementia?
Second most common dementia
Caused by interrupted blood flow to brain and cell death
What causes vascular dementia?
Stroke
Lacunar infarcts
Small vessel disease
How do we treat vascular dementia?
Irreversible damage - treatment aims at secondary prevention
Drugs for CVS - BP/statins
Lifestyle changes
What protein causes Alzheimer’s?
β-amyloid - insoluble protein from breakdown of amyloid precursor protein. β-amyloid proteins clump together to form plaques that collect between neurons and disrupt communication.
What are neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer’s disease?
Collections of a protein called tau inside a neuron which cause tangles and disrupt the neuron’s transport system. Tau is usually attached to microtubles inside the neuron but in Alzheimer’s, it detaches and clumps together
How is inflammation related to Alzheimer’s?
Astocytes are signalled to help clear up the amyloid plaques between neurons however do not perform their function properly, leading to inflammation and further damage to the neurons
What is Lewy body dementia?
Dementia caused by deposits of a protein called Lewy bodies. Similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Dementia affecting frontal and temporal lobes
What is reality orientation?
Presenting information related to orientation every interaction (e.g. date, time, location, weather…). Reality orientation classes and attitude therapy
What is reminiscence therapy?
Memory triggers to provide focus for reminiscence to maintain identity and social interaction
What are the general stages of memory?
Encoding - processing ready for storage
Storage - maintenance of permanent record
Retrieval - ‘bringing to mind’ of stored information
What is sensory memory?
Duration of seconds with echo if and iconic sensory traces. Sensory memory to short term memory through attention
What is short term memory?
Duration of seconds. Items can be maintained in STM and shifted to long term memory through active rehearsal
What is long term memory?
Unlimited capacity store. Information can be lost through interference of new material on old. Items can only enter through STM
What is working memory?
A complex set of interacting STM subsystems working together
What is amnesia?
Condition characterised by deficits in recall and recognition of facts and events
What is the difference between retrograde and anterograde amnesia?
Retrograde - before onset of brain damage
Anterograde - after the onset of brain damage
What are the causes of amnesia?
Organic - trauma, disease, drugs…
Functional - physiological factors
What is the genetic cause of Alzheimer’s disease?
Mutations in three genes on chromosome 21: APP, PSEN1, PSEN2
All alter the production of β-amyloid
Downs syndrome - extra chromosome 21 so more β-amyloid production if mutation present
What drugs help combat the neurotoxicity of dementia?
NDMA receptor agonists (memantine) protects brain cells by blocking the effects of excess glutamate which is released excessively by cells damaged by Alzheimer’s
