Lesson 1Baseline laboratory and structural imaging to exclude reversible causes: thyroid, B12, RPR, CBC, CMP, and brain MRI protocol for dementiaDefines baseline laboratory and imaging evaluation to exclude reversible contributors to cognitive decline, including thyroid dysfunction, B12 deficiency, infections, metabolic derangements, and recommended brain MRI protocols for dementia assessment.
Standard laboratory dementia panelScreening for infectious contributorsMetabolic and nutritional abnormalitiesBrain MRI sequences for dementiaWhen CT is acceptable or insufficientLesson 2Common neurodegenerative aetiologies and key distinguishing features: Alzheimer disease, vascular cognitive impairment, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementiaDetails common neurodegenerative causes of dementia, including Alzheimer disease, vascular cognitive impairment, frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy body dementia, emphasising core clinical features, typical imaging patterns, and bedside diagnostic clues.
Alzheimer disease: memory-led presentationVascular cognitive impairment patternsFrontotemporal dementia behavioral variantsLewy body dementia core clinical featuresImaging clues to differentiate etiologiesLesson 3Cognitive testing tools and bedside examination elements: MMSE, MoCA, executive function and visuospatial testingReviews bedside cognitive assessment, including MMSE, MoCA, and focused tests of attention, language, memory, executive function, and visuospatial skills, with interpretation tips, limitations, and adaptation for education and cultural background.
MMSE structure, scoring, and limitationsMoCA domains, cutoffs, and adjustmentsBedside executive function assessmentsVisuospatial and constructional testingInterpreting results in clinical contextLesson 4Pharmacologic symptomatic treatments and when to initiate cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine; nonpharmacologic interventions and caregiver supportExplores pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for dementia, including when to start cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine, managing side effects, cognitive rehabilitation, environmental modifications, and structured caregiver support.
Indications for cholinesterase inhibitorsMemantine use and combination therapyManaging treatment side effectsEvidence-based nonpharmacologic strategiesCaregiver education and respite resourcesLesson 5Diagnostic framework for dementia: cognitive domains, functional impairment, and course of declineOutlines a stepwise diagnostic framework for dementia, emphasising cognitive domains, functional decline, and tempo of progression to distinguish neurodegenerative, vascular, and reversible causes, and to guide appropriate investigations and counselling.
Core cognitive domains and typical deficitsFunctional decline and loss of independenceOnset, tempo, and progression patternsDistinguishing dementia from normal agingRed flags for nondegenerative etiologiesLesson 6Advanced biomarkers and their clinical role: CSF amyloid/tau, plasma biomarkers (neurofilament light, plasma p-tau) and indicationsReviews advanced biomarkers such as CSF amyloid and tau, plasma p-tau, and neurofilament light, discussing indications, interpretation, limitations, and how results influence diagnosis, prognosis, and eligibility for disease-modifying trials.
CSF amyloid and tau collection basicsPlasma p-tau assays and cutoffsNeurofilament light as injury markerClinical indications for biomarker testingLimitations, access, and ethical issuesLesson 7Management principles in early hospitalisation: safety assessment, medication review (deliriogenic drugs), risk of delirium and prevention strategiesFocuses on early hospital management of patients with dementia, including safety assessment, medication reconciliation, identification of deliriogenic drugs, delirium risk stratification, prevention bundles, and communication with families and caregivers.
Initial safety and supervision assessmentMedication review and deprescribingDelirium risk factors and screeningNonpharmacologic prevention bundlesFamily engagement and discharge planningLesson 8Common complications and monitoring: delirium superimposed on dementia, falls, medication interactions and prevention/surveillance tacticsAddresses common complications in dementia, including delirium, falls, and medication interactions, with emphasis on risk identification, surveillance strategies, deprescribing, environmental modifications, and interdisciplinary prevention approaches.
Recognizing delirium in dementiaFall risk factors and prevention plansHigh-risk medications and interactionsMonitoring cognitive and functional changeCare pathways for recurrent complicationsLesson 9Key guideline and review sources for dementia evaluation and management (with year identifiers)Summarises major dementia guidelines and consensus statements, highlighting key recommendations, publication years, and how to apply them in practice, including diagnostic criteria, biomarker use, treatment thresholds, and follow-up planning.
Major international dementia guidelinesKey diagnostic criteria and updatesGuidance on biomarker use and limitsTreatment and follow-up recommendationsUsing reviews to stay currentLesson 10Recognising and managing neuropsychiatric symptoms: agitation, psychosis, apathy — safe acute strategies and antipsychotic risksCovers recognition and management of agitation, psychosis, apathy, and mood symptoms in dementia, emphasising environmental and behavioural strategies, risk–benefit analysis of antipsychotics, monitoring for adverse effects, and caregiver education.
Clinical features of agitation and aggressionAssessment of psychosis and hallucinationsApproaches to apathy and mood symptomsNonpharmacologic de-escalation strategiesAntipsychotic indications and safety risks
