Dementia

What is dementia?

An acquired decline in intellectual function resulting in a loss of social independence.

What characterizes dementia?

Impairment of memory and at least one other area of cortical functions such as language, calculating, decision making, judgment, spatial orientation, or abstract reasoning.

How does the progression of dementia differ from confusional states?

Symptoms progress over months to years and alertness is preserved until very late stages of the disease.

What percentage of persons over 65 are affected by dementia?

5-20%.

What is the most common cause of dementia?

Alzheimer's disease, accounting for 50% of all dementia cases.

What are some major causes of dementia?

Cerebrovascular disease, prion disease, Parkinson's disease, alcoholism, neoplasms, chronic meningitis, Huntington's disease, vitamin deficiencies (B1, B12), and hypothyroidism.

What are the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease?

Spatial orientation issues, aphasia, anomia, acalculia, and frontal lobe gait disorder.

What are the effects of Alzheimer's disease on personality in later stages?

Personality changes, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions.

What is the state of patients in the end stage of Alzheimer's disease?

Patients are bedridden, mute, and incontinent.

Which brain areas are most affected by Alzheimer's disease?

Frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, amygdala, and hippocampus.

What is the role of amyloid beta-peptide in Alzheimer's disease?

It accumulates due to improper degradation of beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP), forming amyloid plaques that interfere with synaptic transmission.

What happens to tau protein in Alzheimer's disease?

Healthy tau protein becomes dysfunctional, accumulates in the cytoplasm, forming neurofibrillary tangles and contributing to neuronal destruction.

What type of treatment is used for Alzheimer's disease related cognitive deficits?

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are used to boost acetylcholine levels.

What lifestyle factor is suggested for maintaining cognitive function?

Engaging in activities that stimulate the brain, such as learning languages and solving puzzles.