Dementia (Alzheimers)

Question 1

what is Alzheimers disease

Answer 1

chronic neurodegenerative disease

Question 2

what type of disease onset and progression does Alzheimers have

Answer 2

insidious sudden onset but a progressive, slow decline

Question 3

what type of dementia does Alzheimers commonly co-exist with

Answer 3

vascular dementia

Question 4

histopathology of Alzheimers disease

Answer 4

beta-amyloid deposition and neurofibrillary tangles lead to loss of synapses and neurons, which results in gross atrophy of the affected areas of the brain, typically starting at the mesial temporal lobe

Aggregation of the abnormally phosphorylated tau protein, a microtubule-associated protein that stabilises microtubules in the cell, is also observed in the brains of people with AD. Tau accumulates into intraneuronal masses known as neurofibrillary tangles and as dystrophic neurites.

Question 5

risk factors for developing AD

Answer 5

advancing age, family Hx, cerebrovascular disease, smoking, obesity, alcohol, low SES

Question 6

presentation of AD (history and exam)

Answer 6

memory loss, disorientation, dysphasia, misplacing/losing items, apathy, decline in daily activities, personality changes, mood changes, poor abstract thinking

Question 7

investigations for AD diagnosis

Answer 7

bedside cognition tests, FBC, TSH, vitamin B12, CT

Question 8

treatment

Answer 8

supportive care, environmental control (occupational therapists etc) and cholinesterase inhibitors

Question 9

examples of cholinesterase inhibitors

Answer 9

donepezil

Question 10

prognosis

Answer 10

it Is progressive and neurodegenerative