HCA202: Dementia, Delirium, Disorientation — Finals Revision

All about dementia and class modules

What are some age related brain changes?

Changes in the brain and the nervous system

T/F: dementia, delirium, and disorientation ARE normal parts of aging

False

What is disorientation?

The impaired ability to recall people, time, or place.

What CAUSES disorientation? (List 3 examples)

1. Depression

2. Brain tumour

3. Electrolyte Imbalance

How does disorientation occur?

It can occur suddenly; It occurs gradually over long periods of time.

which age groups does disorientation typically affect?

More common in older people.

Is there a cure for disorientation?

Whether it is reversible or not depends on the cause; Usually, there is NO CURE.

What are signs and symptoms of disorientation? (List 5 examples)

1. Anxiety

2. Tremors

3. Hallucinations

4. Delusions

5. LOC decline

What are other CAUSES of Disorientation? (List 5 examples)

1. UTI

2. Brain/Head trauma

3. Alcohol Intoxication

4. Low blood sugar

5. Fever

How do you minimize or prevent disorientation? (List 5 examples)

1. Get regular sleep

2. Have a balanced diet

3. Do not drink alcohol

4. Maintain blood sugar control (if diabetic)

5. Do not smoke

What should you do if sudden “onset disorientation” occurs?

• Requires immediate medical attention!

• If not caught early, it can cause permanent damage.
  

What is Delirium?

Disorientation that occurs suddenly; state of TEMPORARY, but acute, mental confusion.

T/F: Is delirium an emergency?

True

What are the CAUSES of Delirium?

1. Reaction to Medications

2. Infections/Disease

3. Poor Nutrition

4. Food Poisoning

5. Dehydration

What are signs and symptoms of Delirium? (list 5 examples)

1. Concentration challenges

2. Incoherent speech

3. Disorientation (to time or place)

4. Perception + Sensation changes

5. Illusions and Hallucinations

What is Hallucination?

Seeing things that others cannot.

What is Illusion?

Misinterpretation of real stimulus.

What are other signs and symptoms of Delirium? (list 5 examples)

1. Altered LOC (Level of conciousness)

2. Sleep pattern changes

3. Altered Level of Alertness

4. Short-memory and recall decline

5. Emotional/personality changes

What does a diagnosis for delirium consist of? (List the 5 steps)

1. Blood Work

2. EEG

3. CT/MRI

4. Chest X-Ray

5. Spinal Tap

What is the purpose of “treatment” in delirium?

Goal is to control or reverse the CAUSE of symptoms

What does delirium treatment consist of?

1. Stopping pre-existing medications

2. Early treatment of existing disorders

3. Other types of medication

4. Some are admitted to the psychiatric site

What is the definition of Dementia?

The progressive loss of Cognitive and Social functions

What are the most common forms of dementia? (list the 5 types)

1. Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Diseases (ADRD)

2. Vascular Dementia

3. Dementia with Lewy Body (DLB)

4. Frontotemporal Dementia

5. Other rare diseases (or “mixed dementia”)

What are some things that dementia affects?

1. Simple care activities (e.g. bathing, eating, dressing).

2. Personal, social, and occupational activity

3. Complex care activities (e.g. driving, work, planning).

Which age group does dementia affect?

More common for those aged 65+

When diagnosed with dementia, what are the two categories of classification?

1. Minor neurocognitive disorder

2. Major neurocognitive disorder

What is the categorization (neurocognitive disorder) of Dementia based on?

Decline in: (AFLMMLS - A Female Loves My Mac Lip Stick)

1. Attention

2. Function

3. Learning

4. Memory

5. Motor Movement

6. Language

7. Social Functioning

What are some early signs of dementia? (List 5 examples)

1. Getting lost in familiar places

2. Misplacing things

3. Personality changes

4. Poor or decreased judgement

5. Loss of interest in life

What are is the type of dementia called when it is untreatable?

Primary Dementia

What are primary dementias?

Irreversible and untreatable forms of dementia.

What are the primary dementias?

1. Alzheimer’s Diseases

2. Vascular Dementia

3. Dementia with Lewy Bodies

4. Frontotemporal Dementia

What happens cognitively with primary dementias?

Brain declines over time

What are Secondary dementias?

Treatable (reversible) forms of dementia — Changes in brain has not yet occured

What are some exampled of Secondary Dementia? (list 5 examples)

1. Brain injury

2. Brain tumour

3. Substance abuse

4. Infections

5. Poisoning

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

A progressive, degenerative disease that gradually destroys nerve cells.
A type of primary dementia

How long is the progression for Alzheimer’s typically?

can span from 3 to 20 years; average = 8 to 12 years

Who first identified ADRD?

Dr. Alois Alzheimer

When was Alzheimer identified?

1906

What are the two distinguishing characteristics of Alzheimer’s Disease?

1. Plaques

2. Tangles

What are “Plaques” in ADRD?

Deposits in the brain becomes toxic

What are “Tangles” in ADRD?

Interferes with visual processes

What happens to the brain with Alzheimer’s?

It shrinks

Which age group does it often affect?

Ages 65+; Though, most are not diagnosed after aged 80.

• *It can still affect those in their 40s and 50s

Is there a cure for alzheimers?

No cure, but medications to slow progress.

What are some warning signs of ADRD? (list 5 examples)

1. Memory loss

2. Difficulty performing familiar care activities

3. Difficulties with language

4. Disorientation (time and space)

5. Impaired judgement

Which type of Primary Dementia is the most common?

Alzheimer’s Disease

What is Vascular Dementia?

Another common primary dementia; caused by the reduced blood flow to the brain which triggers “mini strokes” or (TIA - Transient Ischemic Attacks) resulting in brain tissue death.

What is the difference between Primary and Secondary Dementias?

Primary: Irreversible; Is not caused by other illnesses or diseases

Secondary: May be reversible; Caused by other underlying medical conditions

Are there any treatments or cure for Vascular Dementia?

No; Can modify lifestyle choices to prevent it.

Speed of progression: Vascular Dementia

Varies from person to person; typically in “stepwise fashion”.

How does the progression of Vascular Dementia look like?

1. Memory lapses

2. Periods of stability

3. Further decline

What are some common mental and emotional signs and symptoms of vascular dementia?

1. Slowed thiking

2. Memory impairment

3. Unsuaul mood changes

4. Hallucinations + Delusion

5. Personality changes

What causes Dementia with Lewy Bodies?

caused by an accumulation of Lewy Bodies–accumulated bits of protein—in the nuclei of neurons in areas of the brain.

What are the characteristics involved with Dementia with Lewy Bodies?

1. Fluctuations in alertness and attention

2. Recurrent visual hallucinations

3. Parkinson-like motor symptoms

What differentiates Lewy Body Dementia with others?

The central feature is a progressive cognitive decline in combination with three other characteristics.

Diagnosins DLB

It is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis due to similarity of symptoms to other forms of dementia or other diseases.

What is something that people with DLB also suffer with?

Depression