Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Memory leak-clinical focus on practical Neurology

These are excerpts from a review in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA):

Elderly with mild cognitive impairment are at increased risk of progression to dementia but no test is useful in evaluating this risk. Medications are not favorable in mild cognitive impairment.

Physical activity and treatment of high blood pressure decrease the risk of dementia.

In people with Alzheimer's disease, a cholinesterase inhibitor or Memantine (a receptor antagonist, N-methyl-D-aspartate) provides a symptomatic relief. Drugs do not change the progression of the disease.

Psychological and behavioral symptoms are common in Alzheimer's disease.

Atypical antipsychotics reduce agitation and psychosis, but increase the risk of cardiovascular events.

Role in the management of depression antidepressant with mild cognitive impairment is uncertain, but they may increase the risk of falls and delirium.

References:

Memory loss. Leon A Flicker, Andrew H Ford, Christopher D beer and Osvaldo p. Almeida Med J Aust 2012; 196 (2): 114-117.

Image source: hippocampus, from Wikipedia, in the public domain.


View the original article here

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