Lesson 1Cognitive testing tools and bedside examination elements: MMSE, MoCA, executive function and visuospatial testingReviews bedside thinking checks, including MMSE, MoCA, and aimed tests of focus, speech, memory, planning, space skills, with read tips, limits, tweaks for learning and culture.
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 dementia issues like sudden confusion on top, falls, drug clashes, stressing risk spot, watch plans, drug cut, place changes, 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 care for dementia folks, on safety check, drug list fix, spot confusion-causing drugs, confusion risk group, stop packs, family talks.
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 amyloid tau, blood p-tau, nerve filament light, on when to use, read, limits, and result effects on diagnosis, outlook, trial fitness.
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 base lab and scan checks to rule out fixable thinking drop causes, like thyroid issue, B12 lack, infections, body mix-ups, and suggested brain MRI for dementia.
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 dementia, like Alzheimer, blood vessel thinking harm, front-time dementia, Lewy body, stressing main signs, usual scans, bedside 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, mind loss, no interest, mood in dementia, stressing place and act plans, drug risk-benefit, side watch, family teach.
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 dementia treatments, when to start brain chemical drugs or memantine, side handle, thinking rehab, place tweaks, family aid plans.
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 dementia diagnosis frame, stressing thinking areas, daily task drop, drop speed to sort brain wear, vessel, fixable causes, guide 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 dementia guides and agreements, key advice, years, practical use, diagnosis rules, marker use, treatment starts, follow-up.
Major international dementia guidelinesKey diagnostic criteria and updatesGuidance on biomarker use and limitsTreatment and follow-up recommendationsUsing reviews to stay current
