Medical Care of the Patient with Dementia |
Certified
for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Co-Sponsored
by
the
University of Alabama
School
of Medicine
Division of Continuing Medical Education,
Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and
Palliative Care, and
The Center for Aging
| Release
Date: November 25, 2008 |
Expiration
Date: November 25, 2011 |
| TARGET
AUDIENCE: |
| Primary
care physicians |
| OBJECTIVES: |
| Upon
completion of this CME activity,
participants
should be able to: |
- Choose an appropriate agent to slow progression of the cognitive symptoms of dementia.
- Recognize that it is essential for physicians to discuss home safety with dementia patients and their families.
- Identify various sources of support for caregivers of patients with dementia.
- Assess a patient with dementia for the cause of an acute change in behavior.
- Name risks and benefits of various treatments for behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia.
|
| Top of Page |
| FACULTY: |
| EDITOR
AND CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: |
Angela
R. Curtis, PhD
Managing Editor
Assistant Professor, Geriatric Education
Manager
Division
of Gerontology, Geriatrics and
Palliative Care
Caroline Harada, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama |
| Top of Page |
| |
| DISCLOSURE: |
Dr. Harada has no commercial affiliations
to disclose.
Because of the nature of preliminary
studies, some products mentioned are
unlabeled and investigational. Dosages,
indications, and methods of use of
drugs mentioned in this publication
may reflect the experience of the authors,
clinical literature, or other resources.
Therefore, please see the full prescribing
information before using any licensed
product mentioned. |
| CME
PARTICIPATION: |
| To
participate in this online course
for CME credit, please review the
objectives before beginning the program.
Complete the course and the self-assessment
test before November 25, 2011 to receive
CME credit. Your certificate will
then be available online. This process
should take approximately 1 hour. |
| ACCREDITATION: |
The
University of Alabama School of
Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Continuing Medical
Education to provide continuing
medical education for physicians.
The
University of Alabama School of
Medicine designates this educational
activity for a maximum of 1 AMA
PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Physicians should only claim credit
commensurate with the extent of
their participation in the activity.
The
boards of nursing in many states,
including Alabama, recognize Category
1 continuing medical education
courses as acceptable activities
for the renewal of license to practice
nursing. |
| DISCLAIMER: |
| Dosages,
indications, and methods of use of
any drug referred to in this publication
may reflect the clinical experience
of the authors, clinical literature,
or other clinical resources. Therefore,
please see the full prescribing information
before using any product mentioned.
UAB is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action institution. |
| INTRODUCTION: |
Dementia is a term used to describe a constellation of symptoms due to impaired brain functioning resulting in inability to perform normal activities. These symptoms usually include cognitive impairment, such as memory, language, or problem solving difficulties. In addition, common symptoms can include personality changes and behavioral disturbances. It is estimated that dementia affects 3.4 million individuals in the United States over the age of 71[1]. The most common causes of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Alzheimer's accounts for approximately 70% of cases of dementia and vascular dementia for 17% of cases.[1] Other types of dementia include: dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementias, Parkinson’s dementia, normal pressure hydrocephalus, alcoholic dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and other infectious dementias such as HIV-related dementia and neurosyphilis. |
| Top of Page |
CASE: |
Ms. S is an 82-year-old woman who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia. Her Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score is 21. She is still living independently in the same house she has lived in for 40 years. She still drives to her clinic appointments and to bingo games on most nights. The patient’s daughter asks if there is anything she can take to help her memory.
|
|
