Dementia Overview and Classification

A set of flashcards covering the definition, types, symptoms, diagnosis criteria, risk factors, and the role of speech-language pathologists in dementia.

What is dementia?

A heterogeneous constellation of signs and symptoms of central nervous system degeneration resulting in progressive and persistent deterioration of intellectual functioning.

What is the most affected function in dementia?

Memory is the most obvious function affected.

What are the criteria for diagnosing dementia?

Gradual onset and progression, a duration of at least 6 months, and sustained deterioration of memory plus disturbances in at least 3 other areas.

What is the global incidence of dementia?

Approximately 50 million people are living with dementia worldwide.

How many new cases of dementia occur annually worldwide?

About 9.9 million new cases annually.

How many people in the US are living with dementia?

Approximately 5.7 million people.

What are the risk factors for dementia?

Increasing age, family history, being female, ApoE4 gene, cardiovascular disease, previous head injuries, and lower education or verbal ability.

What are the warning signs of dementia?

Memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, language problems, disorientation, problems with abstract thought, misplacing things, personality changes, and loss of initiative.

What types of dementia are reversible?

depression, drug toxicity, infection, normal pressure hydrocephalus, nutritional deficiencies, cardiopulmonary disorders, or resectable brain lesions.

What types of dementia are irreversible?

include Alzheimer's, multi-infarction disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, AIDS, and alcoholic dementia syndromes.

What is the most prevalent cause of dementia?

Alzheimer's Disease.

What is Alzheimer's Disease's rank as a leading cause of death in the US?

It is the 4th leading cause of death.

What cognitive functions are impaired in Alzheimer's Disease?

Short-term and long-term memory impairment, breakdown in higher cortical functions, impaired abstract thinking and judgment, and personality changes.

What characterizes brain atrophy in Alzheimer's Disease?

It primarily kills brain cells in the hippocampus and cortex, leading to impairments in learning, memory, and thinking.

What happens to event memory in early Alzheimer's Disease?

Event memory is often disrupted from early in the disease.

Which brain regions are affected in the progression of Alzheimer's Disease?

The temporal lobe, parietal lobe, frontal lobe, and the connections in between.

How does Alzheimer's Disease differ from aphasia?

In Alzheimer's Disease, language deteriorates along with cognitive and memory skills, whereas in aphasia, language deficits improve with treatment.

What happens to cognitive reorganization in Alzheimer's Disease?

Cognitive reorganization is not possible in Alzheimer's Disease.

What role does the speech-language pathologist (SLP) play in dementia?

To assess the disorder, differentiate language disorders, determine language deficits and progression, evaluate communication needs, and make referrals.

What does FOCUS stand for in strategy to facilitate communication with a person with dementia?

F: Face, O: Orient, C: Continue, U: Unstick, S: Structured, E: Exchange, D: Direct.

What will you find typically when assessing someone with Alzheimer's Disease?

Significant language deterioration along with impaired cognitive abilities.

What type of memory loss occurs in Alzheimer's Disease?

Both short-term and long-term memory loss occurs.

What is a common behavioral change noted in dementia?

Personality changes and loss of initiative.

What can indicate the progression of dementia?

Sustained deterioration in memory and cognitive functions over time.