Term
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Definition
Diminished alertness and clarity of thinking
Attention deficits: Impaired ability to maintain focus and process information
Cognition deficits: Recent memory impairment and disorientation
Perceptional deficits: Illusions and hallucinations |
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Term
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Definition
Management of underlying physiological dysfunction is key intervention.
Cautious use of medications for symptom management. |
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Term
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Definition
| Chronic, progressive mental disorder characterized by deficits in intellectual abilities including memory, judgment, and abstract thinking. |
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Term
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Definition
Alzheimer Disease
Vascular Dementia
Degenerative Dementia
Parkinson's Disease |
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Term
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Definition
| An acute organic mental disorder with a specific precipitating stressor characterized by a cluster of cognitive impairments. |
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Term
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Definition
| Disturbance in cerebral metabolism caused by major physiological dysfunction |
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Term
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Definition
Extracellular Amyloid-Beta Protein Plaques leading to secondary inflammation and neuron cell death
Intracellular neurofibrillary tangles
Plaques and tangles may be due to ischemic insults of cerebrovascular disease (?)
Decreased acetylcholine synthesis |
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Term
| Vascular Dementia Neurobiology |
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Definition
Large cortical cerebral artery infarctions
Small cerebral artery infarctions in the hippocampus, basal ganglion, caudate, thalamus, cerebellum, and brainstem
Chronic subcortical ischemia from arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis
Small cerebral microbleeds |
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Term
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Definition
Organic Triad Deficit: Memory, judgment, orientation
Behavior regression
Difficulty adapting to change
Decrease in complex, abstract thinking
Labile or blunted affect
Hoarding
Confabulation
Illusions
Paranoid delusions
Aphasia
Apraxia
Agnosia
Aware of own behavior changes
Sundowning |
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Term
| Alzheimer vs Vascular Descriptions |
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Definition
| Hoarding Confabulation Illusions Paranoid delusions Aphasia Apraxia Agnosia Aware of own behavior changes TIA Ataxia Headache Fatigue |
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Term
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Definition
Declarative memory: Fact and events
Loss of recent recall occurs first, then loss of immediate recall, and finally loss of more distant memories.
Procedural and motor memory loss occurs later |
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Term
| Types of Declarative Memory |
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Definition
Episodic (specific events)
Immediate recall (pre-frontal cortex)
Recent recall (hippocampus)
Memory of more distance events
Semantic (vocabulary and concepts) |
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Term
| Alzheimer Disease: Medications |
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Definition
Mild to Moderate Stage: Cholinesterase inhibitors
Moderate to Severe Stage: Namenda (Memantine)
A 2010 Phase II clinical trial with 104 subjects demonstrated an insulin (20 IU) nasal spray resulted in improved memory and general cognition. |
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Term
| Cholinesterase Inhibitors for AD: MOA & Ex |
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Definition
Result in increased acetylcholine
Galantamine (Razadyne)
Rivastigmine (Exelon)
Donepezil (Aricept)
Become less effective as disease progresses |
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Term
| Cholinesterase Inhibitors for AD: Side Effects |
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Definition
GI: N & V, diarrhea, anorexia
CV: Dizziness, syncope, bradycardia
Other: Incontinence, leg cramps, sleep disturbance |
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Term
| Namenda (Memantine) for AD: MOA & Side Effects |
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Definition
N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist.
By blocking this glutamate receptor site, it decreases the toxic effect associated with excess glutamate which in excess increases cell death.
HA, constipation, hypertension, fatigue |
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Term
Vascular Dementia Medications*
The FDA has not, as yet, approved any medications for the treatment of vascular dementia. However, a number of medications used to treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer Disease appear to work for vascular dementia, too. |
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Definition
Pentoxifylline and, to a more limited extent, ergoloid mesylates (Hydergine), may be useful for increasing cerebral blood flow.
Statins may decrease the risk for vascular dementia.
ASA may decrease inflammation associated with disease process. |
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Term
| Medication to Treat Symptoms of Dementia |
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Definition
Antianxiety medications
Mood stabilizers
Antidepressants
Antipsychotic medications |
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