Dementia Differential Diagnosis
Neurological Function:
H.M is a 67-year-old female, who recently retired from being a school teacher for the last 40 years. Her husband died 2 years ago due to complications of a CVA. Past medical history: hypertension controlled with Olmesartan 20 mg by mouth once a day. Family history no contributory. Last annual visits with PCP with normal results. She lives by herself but her children live close to her and usually visit her two or three times a week.
Her daughter start noticing that her mother is having problems focusing when talking to her, she is not keeping things at home as she used to, often is repeating and asking the same question several times and yesterday she has issues remembering her way back home from the grocery store.
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Dementia Differential Diagnosis
Case Study Questions
- Name the most common risks factors for Alzheimer’s disease
- Name and describe the similarities and the differences between Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular Dementia, Dementia with Lewy bodies, Frontotemporal dementia.
- Define and describe explicit and implicit memory.
- Describe the diagnosis criteria developed for the Alzheimer’s disease by the National Institute of Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association
- What would be the best therapeutic approach on C.J.
Submission Instructions:
- You must complete both case studies.
- Your initial post should be at least 500 words per case study, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources.
1. Similarities and Differences Among Dementias
Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia all share progressive cognitive decline, yet each has distinct features. Alzheimer’s often begins with memory loss, while vascular dementia typically follows a stroke and shows stepwise deterioration. Lewy body dementia presents with visual hallucinations and motor symptoms, whereas frontotemporal dementia starts with personality or language changes.
2. Diagnostic Considerations
Accurate diagnosis involves neuroimaging, cognitive testing, and clinical history. The presence of hallucinations or motor symptoms may point to Lewy body dementia, while sudden onset suggests vascular causes. Differentiating features guide treatment plans and improve patient outcomes.
