Lesson 1Cognitive testing tools and bedside examination elements: MMSE, MoCA, executive function and visuospatial testingReviews ward thinking checks, including quick memory score, Montreal test, and aimed checks of focus, speech, recall, planning, and space skills, with read tips, limits, and tweaks for schooling and local ways.
MMSE structure, scoring, and limitationsMoCA domains, cutoffs, and adjustmentsBedside executive function assessmentsVisuospatial and constructional testingInterpreting results in clinical contextLesson 2Common complications and monitoring: delirium superimposed on dementia, falls, medication interactions and prevention/surveillance tacticsHandles usual memory loss issues like sudden confusion overlay, tumbles, and drug clashes, stressing risk spot, watch plans, cutting drugs, place changes, and team stop methods.
Recognizing delirium in dementiaFall risk factors and prevention plansHigh-risk medications and interactionsMonitoring cognitive and functional changeCare pathways for recurrent complicationsLesson 3Management principles in early hospitalization: safety assessment, medication review (deliriogenic drugs), risk of delirium and prevention strategiesFocuses early hospital handling of memory loss patients, covering safety check, drug list fix, spotting confusion-causing drugs, confusion risk sort, stop packs, and family talk.
Initial safety and supervision assessmentMedication review and deprescribingDelirium risk factors and screeningNonpharmacologic prevention bundlesFamily engagement and discharge planningLesson 4Advanced biomarkers and their clinical role: CSF amyloid/tau, plasma biomarkers (neurofilament light, plasma p-tau) and indicationsReviews high-level body markers like fluid plaque/tangle, blood p-tau, nerve thread light, discussing when to use, read, limits, and how findings shape diagnosis, outlook, and trial suitability.
CSF amyloid and tau collection basicsPlasma p-tau assays and cutoffsNeurofilament light as injury markerClinical indications for biomarker testingLimitations, access, and ethical issuesLesson 5Baseline laboratory and structural imaging to exclude reversible causes: thyroid, B12, RPR, CBC, CMP, and brain MRI protocol for dementiaSets basic blood and scan checks to rule out fixable thinking drop causes, like gland issues, vitamin lack, germ tests, blood count, body salts, and memory loss brain scan plans.
Standard laboratory dementia panelScreening for infectious contributorsMetabolic and nutritional abnormalitiesBrain MRI sequences for dementiaWhen CT is acceptable or insufficientLesson 6Common neurodegenerative etiologies and key distinguishing features: Alzheimer disease, vascular cognitive impairment, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementiaDetails usual brain wear causes of memory loss, like Alzheimer, vessel thinking harm, front brain loss, body inclusion loss, stressing main signs, usual scan looks, and ward diagnosis hints.
Alzheimer disease: memory-led presentationVascular cognitive impairment patternsFrontotemporal dementia behavioral variantsLewy body dementia core clinical featuresImaging clues to differentiate etiologiesLesson 7Recognizing and managing neuropsychiatric symptoms: agitation, psychosis, apathy — safe acute strategies and antipsychotic risksCovers spotting and handling restlessness, false beliefs, no interest, mood issues in memory loss, stressing place/behaviour plans, drug risk-benefit, side effect watch, and carer teaching.
Clinical features of agitation and aggressionAssessment of psychosis and hallucinationsApproaches to apathy and mood symptomsNonpharmacologic de-escalation strategiesAntipsychotic indications and safety risksLesson 8Pharmacologic symptomatic treatments and when to initiate cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine; nonpharmacologic interventions and caregiver supportLooks at drug and non-drug memory loss treatments, including when to start nerve boosters or memantine, side handling, mind rehab, place tweaks, and carer aid setups.
Indications for cholinesterase inhibitorsMemantine use and combination therapyManaging treatment side effectsEvidence-based nonpharmacologic strategiesCaregiver education and respite resourcesLesson 9Diagnostic framework for dementia: cognitive domains, functional impairment, and course of declineOutlines step-by-step memory loss diagnosis plan, stressing thinking areas, daily task drop, and drop speed to tell brain wear, vessel, fixable causes, guiding tests and advice.
Core cognitive domains and typical deficitsFunctional decline and loss of independenceOnset, tempo, and progression patternsDistinguishing dementia from normal agingRed flags for nondegenerative etiologiesLesson 10Key guideline and review sources for dementia evaluation and management (with year identifiers)Sums big memory loss guidelines and agreements, noting key tips, publish years, practical use including diagnosis rules, marker use, treatment starts, and follow-up plans.
Major international dementia guidelinesKey diagnostic criteria and updatesGuidance on biomarker use and limitsTreatment and follow-up recommendationsUsing reviews to stay current
