Psych Flashcards - Approach, Dementia, Delerium

Front 1

Reversible Causes of Dementia/ Cognitive Deficits

Back 1

Reversible Causes of Dementia/ Cognitive Deficits:-
- Mass lesions of the brain (hematoma, tumor)
- Normal Pressure Hyrocephalus
- Collagen Vascular Diseases
- Hypothyroid
- wilson's Disease
- Neurosyphilis (3? Syphilis affecting brain & spinal cord)
- Vitamin deficiency (B12, folate)

Front 2

Cholinergic Deficits in VaD and AD

Back 2

Cholinergic Deficits in VaD and AD

- ↓ acetylcholine synthesis
- ↓ acetylcholine levels in cerebrospinal fluids
- CAUTION!
DO NOT give (or give with caution) anticholinergic medications, e.g. benadryl/diphenhydramine, cogentin/benzotropine etc to elderly patients

Front 3

The Diagnosis Process for AD
(on living person)

Back 3

Diagnosis Process of AD

- Med Hx
- PE, labs
- PersonaI interview with pt & caregiver
- MMSE
_ functional status assessment, eg. Physical Self Maintenance Scale PSMS
- Brain scans
Based on progression of sx over time, a dx is made and care & planning & tx begins

Front 4

Reversible Causes of Dementia/ Cognitive Deficits

Back 4

Reversible Causes of Dementia/ Cognitive Deficits:-
- Mass lesions of the brain (hematoma, tumor)
- Normal Pressure Hyrocephalus
- Collagen Vascular Diseases
- Hypothyroid
- wilson's Disease
- Neurosyphilis (3? Syphilis affecting brain & spinal cord)
- Vitamin deficiency (B12, folate)

Front 5

Cholinergic Deficits in VaD and AD

Back 5

Cholinergic Deficits in VaD and AD

- ↓ acetylcholine synthesis
- ↓ acetylcholine levels in cerebrospinal fluids
- CAUTION!
DO NOT give (or give with caution) anticholinergic medications, e.g. benadryl/diphenhydramine, cogentin/benzotropine etc to elderly patients

Front 6

The Diagnosis Process for AD
(on living person)

Back 6

Diagnosis Process of AD

- Med Hx
- PE, labs
- PersonaI interview with pt & caregiver
- MMSE
- functional status assessment, eg. Physical Self Maintenance Scale PSMS
- Brain scans
Based on progression of sx over time, a dx is made and care & planning & tx begins

Front 7

Transmitter systems in AD

Back 7

Transmitter Systems in AD
- 2 neurotransmitter systems have been well characterized for their importance in learning & memory, & as potential targets for AD treatment intervention:

Front 8

Acetylcholine:

Back 8

Acetylcholine:

- loss of cholinergic neurons in AD
- theory: increase available acetylcholine to improve or maintain cognitive fn
- rationale for use of acetylcholinerase inhibitors (AChEIs)

Front 9

Role of Glutamate in AD

Back 9

Role of Glutamate in AD:

- the normal activity of the neurotransmitter glutamate plays an integral role in the neural pathways associated with learning and memory

- in AD, abnormal glutamatergic activity can cause neuronal toxicity & impair learning