5/5/2021 Dementia Notes: Diagrams & Illustrations | Osmosis

TREATMENT
No cure

MEDICATIONS
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Vitamin E supplementation may provide
benefit
Memantine (advanced stages)

Figure 72.2 A histological section of the

hippocampus from an individual with
Alzheimer’s disease demonstrating a
neurofibrillary tangle.

Figure 72.3 A histological section of brain

from an individual with Alzheimer’s disease
demonstrating multiple amyloid plaques.

LEW
osms.it/lewy-body-dementia
COMPLICATIONS
PATHOLOGY & CAUSES Persistent psychotic symptoms, especially
visual hallucinations
Degenerative disease
Depression
Early dementia, visual hallucinations
Complete debilitation, dependence on
onset; later parkinsonian clinical feature
others
onset, presence of Lewy bodies
Debilitation infection often → death; life
Occurs at 50–85 years old (typically)
expectancy ↓
More rapid cognitive decline than AD
Neuroleptic-agent sensitivity
Adverse effects ( parkinsonism) ↑
CAUSES severity, symptom exacerbation
Alpha-synuclein protein aggregation in
neurons ( particularly cortex, substantia
nigra) forming Lewy bodies, → apoptosis

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