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Dementia is an acquired global impairment of intellect, memory and personality, but without impairment of consciousness. It is usually but not always progressive Although dementia is global or generalized disorder, it often begins with focal cognitive or behavioral disturbances Most common causes: Alzheimer’s disease(50- 60%), vascular dementia (20-25%), and dementia with Lewy bodies (15-20%)
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Both DSM-IV and ICD-10 definitions require impairment in two or more cognitive domains (memory, language, abstract thinking and judgment, praxis, visuoperceptual skills, personality, and social conduct) sufficient to interfere with social or occupational functioning. Deficits may initially be too mild or circumscribed to fulfill this definition. The fluctuation in alertness which characterize delirium is usually absent, except in dementia with Lewy bodies.
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1. Primary neurodegenerative disorders: Alzheimer’s, Lewy bodies, Pick’s, Parkinson’s, Prion diseses, Huntington’s disease. 2. Vascular: vascular dementia, multiple strokes, focal thalamic and basal ganglia strokes, subdural hematoma 3. Inflammatory and autoimmune: SLE, Bahcet’s, MS, neurosarcoidosis 4. Traumatic : head injury 5. Infections and related conditions: HIV, neurosyphilis 6. Metabolic and endocrine : uremia, dialysis, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, hypopituitarism, Cushing’s disease
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7. Neoplastic 8. Post-radiation 9. Post- anoxic 10. Vitamin and other nutritional deficiencies : B12, folate 11. Toxic: alcohol, heavy metals, organic solvents 12. Other causes: normal pressure hydrocephalus
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The presenting complaint is usually of poor memory Other features include disturbances of behavior, language, personality, mood,or perception Dementia is often exposed by a change in social circumstances or an intercurrent illness; indeed,patients with dementia are specially susceptible for superimposed delirium.
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Forgetfulness is usually early and prominent Impaired attention and concentration are common and non-specific features Difficulty in new learning is usually the most conspicuous feature. Memory loss is more evident for recent than for more remote material Loss is more in episodic memory (day-day events) while there is relative preservation of procedural memory Loss of flexibility and adaptability for new situations with the appearance of rigid and stereotyped routines
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As dementia progress patients became unable to care for themselves and they neglect social conventions. Disorientation for time and later for place and person is common Behavior become aimless Thinking slows and become impoverished in content and perseverative False ideas often with persecutory kind appear and in later stages the thinking becomes grossly fragmented and incoherent Eventually patient may become mute Behavioral, affective, and psychotic features accompany the cognitive deficits during dementia. Mortality is increased with death often following bronchopneumonia and a terminal coma
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subcorticalcortical memorymoderateSevere, early languagenormalDysphasias, early personalityApathetic, inertindifferent moodFlat, depressednormal coordinationimpairednormal Cognitive and motor speedslowednormal Abnormal movementsCommon, choreiform or tremor rare
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In all patients: full blood count, ESR, urea and electrolytes, liver function tests, calcium and phosphate, thyroid function tests, syphilis serology, urinalysis, B12 and folate. Worth considering: HIV status, chest radiograph, EEG, CT & MRI of brain, ECG, neuropsychological assessment
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A-Drug therapy for cognitive deficits: 1. Cholinesterase inhibitors: can decrease the cognitive defects in 60%of patients like tacrine( risk of liver damage is high) which lead to incompliance,and donepezil( aricept) which has less severe side effects. 2. Vitamin E :which can decrease the rate of functional decline. 3. Selegiline:MAO B inhibitor which delays cognitive deterioration. Its major defect is orthostatic hypotension.No need for dietary restriction.
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B – Drug therapy for psychosis and agitation : antipsychotic drugs like risperidone and clozapine. Also benzodiazepines like lorazepam for sleep disorders. Anticonvulsant agents, antiandrogens( medroxyprogesterone) for disinhibited sexual behavior. C -antidepressants
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Epilepsy is the tendency to recurrent seizures A seizure is consisting of a paroxysmal electrical discharge in the brain and its clinical sequelae. The tendency to recurrent seizures in epilepsy should be distinguished from isolated seizures due to : drugs, hypoglycemia, and intercurrent illness.
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Psychiatric co-morbidity is common in people with epilepsy, with overall rates increased at least two folds. Many different types of psychiatric disorders are associated with epilepsy,including cognitive,affective,emotional and behavioral disturbances. These can occur before, during,after,and in between seizures. The relationship between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders can be reflected in : a shared etiology (temporal lobe pathology can cause both epilepsy and psychosis), the effects of stigma, and the side effects of antiepileptic drugs that might cause psychiatric problems.
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Called prodromal states Mood disturbances Increasing tension, irritability Anxiety and depression Usually occur several hours or even days before a seizure,and usually increasing in severity as the seizure approaches.
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In complex partial seizures there might be affective disturbances, hallucinations, anxiety,automatism Absence seizures : altered awareness and automatism
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Impaired consciousness Delirium Psychosis
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Not related to the occurrence of fits Cognitive problems Psychosis Sexual problems Depression Suicide and deliberate self harm Personality change
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There are two main groups of patients who have suffered head injury: 1. The relatively small group with persistent serious cognitive and behavioral sequele 2. A larger group with emotional symptoms and personality change
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Occur after recovery from coma Delirium Delusional misidentification Agitation and disinhibition Inappropriate sexual behavior
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Post-concussional syndrome: a group of symptoms include anxiety, depression and irritability, accompanied by headache, dizziness, fatigue, poor concentration, and insomnia. It might be psychologically based and usually resolve spontaneously. Lasting cognitive impairment: deficits in memory and executive functions ( planning, problem solving, organizing, etc…) Personality change: irritability, apathy, loss of spontaneity and drive, disinhibition, and decreased control of aggressive impulses. Emotional disorder: depression, anxiety, and emotional lability. Psychosis: may be transient or chronic Boxing and head injury: 10-20% of professional boxers develop what is called punch drunk syndrome or dementia pugilistica.
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