NUR 108 Dementia
- Dementia
Answer Dementia is a syndrome is which there is a deterioration in memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform everyday activities
- The three most common cognitive problems in adults are dementia, delirium and depression
Answer Dementia is a neurocognitive disorder characterized by dysfunction or loss of memory, orientation, attention, language, judgment and reasoning
- Delirium
Answer Delirium is a potentially reversible cognitive impairment that occurs suddenly and gets worse at night Delirium usually has a physiological cause such as electrolyte imbalances, untreated pain, infection, hypoglycemia or a CVA A new onset should suggest treating for such illnesses as an UTI, or pneumonia The presence of delirium is a medical emergency and requires prompt attention and intervention The cognitive impairment usually reverses once the underlying medical condition has been treated co 2
- Depression
Answer Older adults can experience late life depression but it is not a normal part of aging Depression is most common in older adults but is not treated as such since Clinical depression is treatable The Geriatric Depression Scale is an easy to use screening tool The main difference between delirium and depression is that depression comes on slowly versus delirium which comes on suddenly co 2
- Geriatric Depression Scale 1 / 2
Answer Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending upon age, education and complaints Scores of 5-8 indicate mild depression Scores of 9-11 indicate moderate depression Scores of 12-15 indicate severe depression
- Causes of Dementia
Answer Most common causes are neurodegenerative Vascular dementia Mixed dementia Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Vascular dementia
Answer Vascular dementia, also called multiinfarct dementia, is loss of cognitive function resulting from ischemic or hemorrhagic brain lesions caused by cardiovascular disease
This type of dementia is the result of decreased blood supply from narrowing and blocking of arteries that supply the brain
Vascular dementia may be caused by a single or multiple strokes
- Mixed Dementia
Answer Mixed dementia occurs when two or more types of dementia are present at the same time.
It is characterized by the hallmark abnormalities of Alzheimer's disease and another type of dementia
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
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Answer Normal pressure hydrocephalus is uncommon disorder caused by a buildup of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain