Dementia

Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Dementia (AD)

1. Memory loss
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation to time and place
5. Poor or decreased judgement
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood or behavior
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative

Potentially Reversible Causes of Dementia

1. Alcoholism
2. Anoxia (respiratory/cardiac)
3. Brain tumor
4. Deficiency states (b12, thiamine)
5. Depression
6. Hydrocephalus
7. Hyponatremia
8. Hypothyroidism
9. infections (meningitis, encephalitis)
10. Inflammatory conditions (sarcoidosis)
11. Malignancies
12. Psychosis
13. Sleep disorders (OSA, narcolepsy)
14. Subdural Hematoma (abuse)
15. Toxicity/delirium (medications, heavy metals)
16. Uremia or dialysis dementia
17. Vasculitis

Laboratory studies to rule out other causes of dementia

1. CBC
2. TSH, thyroid tests
3. Serum electrolytes
4. BUN/Cr
5. LFTs
6. B12, Folate, Homocysteine
7. HS CRP
8. HIV
9. Neuroimaging (one-time CT or MRI to detect or exclude hydrocephalus, stroke, subdural hematoma, tumors, occult lesions)