Cognition and Dementia

Flashcards covering key concepts from Chapters 1-6 focusing on normal and impaired cognition, different types of dementia, and assessment methods.

Normal Cognition

Cognitive function that allows individuals to interact with their environment and perform daily tasks.

Impaired Cognition

A state where cognitive abilities are diminished, potentially affecting daily functioning and interactions.

Cognitive Decline

A reduction in cognitive abilities, which may be associated with aging. Higher education levels can sometimes mitigate this decline.

Domains of Cognition

Various areas of mental function, such as memory, attention, language, and critical thinking.

The Three D's

An acronym used in geriatrics to distinguish between Depression, Delirium, and Dementia, which are common causes of cognitive problems.

The Three A's

An acronym referring to Agnosia, Apraxia, and Aphasia, which are cognitive changes that can be observed in individuals with cognitive impairment.

Agnosia

A cognitive change where a person may have trouble recognizing familiar objects, people, or sounds despite intact sensory function.

Apraxia

A cognitive change characterized by difficulty with skilled movements, even when the person has the physical ability and desire to perform them.

Aphasia

A cognitive change that involves difficulty expressing oneself or understanding language, commonly seen in people with dementia.

Assessment of Cognition

The process of collecting information through medical workups and screening tests to determine the presence and type of cognitive issues.

Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE)

A commonly used screening test to assess cognitive function, though other tests like MoCA are also frequently used.

MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment)

A screening test that can assess cognitive changes at an earlier stage than the MMSE, particularly useful for detecting mild cognitive impairment.

Lewy Body Dementia

A type of dementia often characterized by visual hallucinations, such as talking to imaginary people in the room.

Frontal Temporal Dementia

A type of dementia that primarily affects social interaction and personality, due to degeneration in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.

Alzheimer's Type Dementia

A common type of dementia characterized by progressive memory loss and other cognitive impairments.

Mixed Dementia

A condition in which a person has more than one type of dementia simultaneously, such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.