Rapidly Progressive Dementia and its Mimics
CAUTION Rapidly progressive dementia does not mean CJD. The premature diagnosis of CJD is to be avoided. Recent pathological studies have demonstrated that 7% of patients who come to autopsy…
Mild Cognitive Impairment
2 Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, USA3 Department of Neurology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, USA Introduction…
Young Onset Dementia: How Much Diagnostic Testing is Enough?
TIPS AND TRICKS A number of factors can complicate and delay the diagnosis of the patient with YOD, including atypical presentations of common diseases, overlapping phenotypes of multiple different pathologies,…
Assessing Outcomes in Dementia Care
TIPS AND TRICKS Build on elements from the Uniform Data Set recommendations for neuropsychological, functional, and behavioral assessment to assess dementia outcomes Domain assessed Assessment instrument Cognition General cognitive…
After the Diagnosis: Continuing Neurological Care of the Outpatient with Dementia
TIPS AND TRICKS Make a specific diagnosis of dementia type as early in the disease course as possible to aid in appropriate medical management. Address prognosis early to aid advanced…
Depression: Cause or Complication of Cognitive Decline?
CASE Mr S is a 72-year-old man who told his primary care provider that he had depressed and low mood, poor sleep with the inability to sleep past 4.00 am,…
Using Psychotropic Medications to Manage Problem Behaviors in Dementia
CAUTION When assessing a problem behavior for the first time, also look into causes other than dementia. For example, untreated pain, a medication side-effect or delirium can cause agitation, depression…
Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Dementia
EVIDENCE AT A GLANCE Essential elements of informed consent There are three essential elements of informed consent. 1. Disclosure : physicians must convey adequate information to the patient 2. Voluntariness…
Primary Prevention of Dementia
SCIENCE REVISITED The NIH State of the Science Conference statement on Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline is available in its entirety at http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/alz.htm. From the abstract: “Currently, firm conclusions…
Palliative Care in Advanced Dementias
CAUTION Dementia is most common in the geriatric population. A list of medications called the Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults identifies common medications with a…
