p.3
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
In which area of the brain are amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles observed in Alzheimer's disease?
CA3 area of the hippocampus.
p.4
Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia
What is the rank of Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia in terms of commonality?
It is the 3rd most common type of dementia, behind Alzheimer's and Vascular dementia.
p.5
Fronto-Temporal Dementias and Pick's Disease
What is the rank of Fronto-Temporal Dementias in terms of commonality after Alzheimer's, Vascular, and Lewy-Body dementia?
4th most common dementia.
p.5
Fronto-Temporal Dementias and Pick's Disease
What is the primary pathological feature of Fronto-Temporal Dementias?
Selective build-up of Tau proteins within frontal and temporal lobe neurons.
p.6
Vascular Dementia: Causes and Symptoms
What are some prevention strategies for vascular dementia?
Control hypertension, reduce cholesterol, control diabetes, stop smoking, and use antiplatelet drugs.
p.4
Clinical Features of Alzheimer's Disease
What are early clinical features of Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia?
Fluctuating cognition, vivid visual hallucinations, and impairment in attention.
p.1
Common Symptoms of Dementia
What are some later non-cognitive symptoms of dementia?
Apathy, depression, delusions, anxiety, agitation, aggression, hallucinations.
p.3
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What are neurofibrillary tangles associated with in Alzheimer's disease?
They are a key histopathological feature.
p.4
Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia
What is the aetiology of Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia?
The aetiology is unknown, but there is a genetic link.
p.4
Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia
What abnormal protein is associated with the pathogenesis of Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia?
<p>Alpha-synuclein (Lewy Bodies).</p>
p.4
Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia
What is a significant morphological feature of Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia?
Significant cortical atrophy.
p.3
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What does granulovacuolar degeneration indicate in Alzheimer's disease?
It is another histopathological change observed.
p.6
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What primarily causes cumulative ischaemic brain damage in vascular dementia?
Hypertension and atherosclerosis.
p.1
Common Symptoms of Dementia
What is dementia?
Acquired global impairment of intellect, but with no altered level of consciousness (ALOC).
p.1
Epidemiology of Dementia
How does the prevalence of dementia change with age?
It doubles every 5 years beyond age 60.
p.5
Fronto-Temporal Dementias and Pick's Disease
What is a defining feature of Pick's Disease compared to Alzheimer's?
Behavior and personality changes occur prior to memory loss in Pick's Disease.
p.2
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What are the components of the aetiology of Alzheimer's Disease?
Genetic and environmental components; exact aetiology is unknown.
p.4
Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia
What type of treatment is promising for Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia?
Pharmacological treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors.
p.4
Clinical Features of Alzheimer's Disease
How quickly does Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia typically onset?
Rapid onset within a few months.
p.6
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What are the two possible onset patterns for vascular dementia?
Sudden onset following a CVA or gradual deterioration after successive CVAs.
p.6
Morphology of Dementia
What is a common morphological finding in vascular dementia on MRI/CT?
Necrotic or fibrotic foci.
p.6
Clinical Features of Alzheimer's Disease
What are some clinical features of vascular dementia?
Memory loss, decreased cognitive function, confusion, mood changes, language problems, executive dysfunction, and rapid shuffling gait.
p.6
Vascular Dementia: Causes and Symptoms
What is the treatment approach for vascular dementia?
There is no cure, but it is preventable.
p.5
Fronto-Temporal Dementias and Pick's Disease
What are the clinical features of Fronto-Temporal Dementias?
Younger patients (40-65 years), dysexecutive syndrome, behavior changes, and language changes.
p.7
Dementia Pugilistica (Punch Drunk Syndrome)
What is the aetiology of Dementia Pugilistica?
Repetitive trauma/concussion.
p.5
Fronto-Temporal Dementias and Pick's Disease
What type of atrophy is observed in Fronto-Temporal Dementias?
Selective atrophy of frontal and temporal lobes, sparing the parietal and occipital lobes.
p.4
Clinical Features of Alzheimer's Disease
What are later clinical features of Diffuse Lewy-Body Dementia?
Parkinsonism, delusions, and transient altered levels of consciousness.
What are the types of primary dementias?
Alzheimer's Disease, Lewy-Body Dementia, Fronto-Temporal Dementia (Pick's Disease), Age-Related (Senile) Dementia.
p.1
Clinical Features of Alzheimer's Disease
What is a key aspect of clinical diagnosis for dementia?
Timeline of symptom progression and impact on activities of daily living (ADLs).
p.8
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What is a key pathological change in age-related dementia?
Neuronal atrophy, particularly in the cortex and hippocampus.
p.7
Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome
What morphological changes are observed in Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome?
Cortical atrophy, mammillary body atrophy and hemorrhages, and cerebellar atrophy.
p.7
Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome
What is the prognosis for Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome?
Complete recovery is unlikely by the time amnesia and psychosis are apparent.
p.8
Common Symptoms of Dementia
What is retrograde amnesia?
Inability to recall memories from the time of injury/damage backwards.
p.2
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What is a common cause of death in Alzheimer's Disease patients?
Aspiration pneumonia or other infections.
p.5
Fronto-Temporal Dementias and Pick's Disease
What type of aphasia is associated with temporal lobe dysfunction in Fronto-Temporal Dementias?
Progressive aphasia (expressive and receptive).
p.5
Fronto-Temporal Dementias and Pick's Disease
When does memory loss typically occur in Fronto-Temporal Dementias?
Memory is preserved until late stages.
p.2
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What is a key pathological feature of Alzheimer's Disease?
Excess β-Amyloid protein formation.
p.7
Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome
What is the aetiology of Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome?
Alcohol abuse leading to vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency.
p.2
Clinical Features of Alzheimer's Disease
What is the typical age of onset for Alzheimer's Disease?
As young as 50 years old.
p.7
Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome
What is the treatment for Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome?
Supplemental thiamine and vitamin B12.
p.8
Common Symptoms of Dementia
What is anterograde amnesia?
Inability to form new memories from the time of injury/damage onwards.
p.8
Clinical Features of Alzheimer's Disease
Which part of the brain is commonly damaged in age-related dementia leading to amnesia?
The hippocampus and/or thalamus.
p.7
Dementia Pugilistica (Punch Drunk Syndrome)
What are the key pathogenesis factors in Dementia Pugilistica?
Repeated concussive/sub-concussive blows to the head leading to cumulative loss of neurons, fibrosis, hydrocephalus, diffuse axonal injury, and cerebellar damage.
p.7
Dementia Pugilistica (Punch Drunk Syndrome)
What morphological changes are associated with Dementia Pugilistica?
Hydrocephalus and thinning of the corpus callosum.
p.7
Dementia Pugilistica (Punch Drunk Syndrome)
What are the clinical features of Dementia Pugilistica?
Slow progression, dementia (decreased memory, cognition, personality changes), parkinsonism (tremors, decreased coordination), unsteady gait, and dysphasias.
p.8
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What happens to brain mass in age-related dementia?
There is a decrease in brain mass and dendritic branches.
p.2
Clinical Features of Alzheimer's Disease
Where does cortical atrophy typically start in Alzheimer's Disease?
Around Broca’s area and the frontal area.
p.7
Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome
What are the clinical features of Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome?
Impaired memory (anterograde and retrograde), confabulation, vision changes, nystagmus, unequal pupils, and ataxia.
p.2
Clinical Features of Alzheimer's Disease
What late signs indicate extreme global cortical atrophy in Alzheimer's Disease?
Seizures, incontinence, groaning, moaning, or grunting.
p.1
Clinical Features of Alzheimer's Disease
What is the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) used for?
To assess cognitive function in dementia diagnosis.
p.7
Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome
How does vitamin B1 deficiency affect neuronal health in Wernicke's-Korsakoff Syndrome?
It impairs glucose metabolism, leading to neuronal ATP deficiency and neuronal atrophy, particularly in the cortex and mammillary bodies.
p.8
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What is a macro morphological feature of age-related dementia?
Cortical atrophy and enlarging of ventricles (compensatory hydrocephalus).
p.2
Common Symptoms of Dementia
What are some early progressive signs of Alzheimer's Disease?
Increased memory loss, confusion, apathy, anxiety, and difficulty handling money.
p.2
Alzheimer's Disease: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
What type of medication is used in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease?
Acetylcholine-esterase inhibitors.
How is frontotemporal dementia categorised?
<p>Primary progressive aphasia - semantic, progressive nonfluent aphasia</p><p>Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia</p>
How does Behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia present?
<p>Changes in social conduct and behaviour, loss of empathy, apathy, disinhibition, lack of insight</p>
How does semantic dementia present?
<p>Loss of semantic knowledge, impaired word comprehension and object naming, fluent speech with spared repetition</p>
How does progressive nonfluent aphasia present?
<p>Apraxia and effortful speech, spared object knowledge and word comprehension</p>
Which other degenerative disease is fronto-temporal dementia associated with?
<p>Motor neurone disease (ALS)</p>
