Cognitive Impairment
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Dementia – Subjective Cognitive Decline
Subjective cognitive decline indicates a subjective perception of cognitive decline by a patient, in the absence of objective findings on medical evaluation. When cognitive testing is performed, it is normal. While variations of the terminology of SCD have been around …
Dementia – Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that is the most common type of dementia. The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease largely remains a clinical diagnosis in practice, using the criteria like the ones below. …
Dementia – Atypical Features Present?
Early onset at age <65: While Alzheimer’s disease is still the most likely diagnosis for an individual with dementia under age 65, it is important to consider other causes of dementia because they become much more …
Dementia – Identify Reversible Risk Factors
The common conditions below are rarely the sole driver of major cognitive impairment. However, they may be responsible for mild cognitive impairment and generally worsen cognition at any level. Any uncontrolled medical condition: An uncontrolled …
Dementia – Work up: Labs, Imaging, and Consults
Note: Advanced diagnostic testing, including a lumbar puncture for measuring beta-amyloid and tau proteins in the CSF, and blood tests to measure beta amyloid, tau, and neurofilament light chains, are offered by some memory specialists …
Dementia – Major Neurocognitive Disorder (Dementia)
A note on terminology: ”Major neurocognitive disorder” in DSMV replaced the previous terminology of “dementia”; both terms are considered acceptable and interchangeable by most. Limitations to the term “dementia”, as discussed in this article by Sachdev et …
Dementia – Mild Cognitive Impairment
Generally accepted diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI; also known as mild neurocognitive disorder): Concern regarding a change in cognition – doctor, informant, patient Impairment in one or more cognitive domains Learning and memory, …
Dementia – Normal Cognition
Occasionally an evaluation of suspected cognitive impairment will lead to a diagnosis of normal cognition. This is true if their cognitive testing is preserved, the patient does not have any concerns, and there are no abnormalities detected on …
Dementia – History and Physical
History: History should be collected from patient and another informant. Physical Exam: Physical exam components: General physical exam: HEENT cardiovascular pulmonary gastrointestinal musculoskeletal Neurologic exam including assessment for coordination rigidity bradykinesia tremors gait Learn more about …