Dementia
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Description/Definition[edit | edit source]
Dementia refers to a group of symptoms associated with a decline in mental ability. It is caused by disorders affecting the brain, and are described by a collection of symptoms affecting the brain. Dementia has an effect on thinking, behaviour and social interaction, as well as functional abilities.[1][2]
Clinically relevant anatomy[edit | edit source]
Hippocampus:[2]
- Center of memory and learning
- Cells in this region are normally first to be damaged, resulting in the most common symptom of memory loss
Epidemiology & Etiology[edit | edit source]
Epidemiology[edit | edit source]
Dementia is more common in the population above 65.[1]
Etiology[edit | edit source]
Damage to brain cells causes changes to cognitive, behavioural and emotional functions, causing dementia
Different types of dementia has different causes. Common types of dementia are:[1]
- Alzheimer's disease (most common type):
- 60-80% of cases
- Vascular dementia (second most common type):
- After a cerebrovascular accident
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Fronto-temporal lobar degeneration
- Huntington's disease
- Alcohol related dementia (Korsakoff's syndrome)
- Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease
Clinical presentation[edit | edit source]
Early signs of dementia are normally subtle, and not always obvious. It can include:[1][2]
- Progressive and frequent memory loss (mostly short-term)
- Confusion
- Personality change
- Apathy and withdrawal
- Loss of functional abilities to perform activities of daily living
Although some cases of dementia are reversible (e.g. hormonal or vitamin deficiencies), most are progressive, with a slow, gradual onset.
Diagnostic procedures[edit | edit source]
There are no clear test to diagnose dementia. To make the diagnosis of dementia, at least two of the core mental functions need to be significantly impaired:[2]
- Memory
- Communication and language skills
- Concentration and focus
- Reasoning and judgment
- Visual perception
Certain types of dementia is diagnosed by medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and characteristic changes in thinking, behaviour and the effect on performance of activities of daily living. The diagnosis of dementia itself is relatively straight-forward to make, but a lot of times it is difficult to diagnose the exact type, as a lot of the symptoms and brain changes overlap. Neurologists or gero-psychologist normally assist in the diagnosis of the specific types of dementia.[2]
Differential diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Dementia can have different causes, and the following causing conditions can improve with treatment:[1][2]
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Hormone deficiencies (e.g. thyroid problems)
- Depression
- Medication side-effects
- Alcohol abuse
- Overmedication
- Infections
- Brain tumours
O[edit | edit source]
utcome Measures[edit | edit source]
add links to outcome measures here (see Outcome Measures Database)
Medical management[edit | edit source]
Medical management should be obtained as soon as symptoms start appearing, as some of the causes are treatale, and early diagnosis and management can slow down or treat the disease process to allow most benefit from available treatments.[2]
Medication
Support
add text here relating to management approaches to the condition
Resources [edit | edit source]
add appropriate resources here
