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geri:dementia:home [on October 3, 2022]
psychdb
geri:dementia:home [on October 3, 2022]
psychdb [Approach to Dementia]
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   - **Rule out any [[addictions:​home|substance use disorders]]**   - **Rule out any [[addictions:​home|substance use disorders]]**
   - **Rule out any reversible causes, by ordering investigations such as:**   - **Rule out any reversible causes, by ordering investigations such as:**
-    * CBC (to rule out anaemia and some cancers that can may present with fatigue, weight loss, and other depressive symptoms) +    ​* **CBC** (to rule out anaemia and some cancers that can may present with fatigue, weight loss, and other depressive symptoms) 
-    * TSH (to rule out [[cl:​thyroid-disorders:​hypothyroidism|hypothyroidism]] that can cause a depressive syndrome) +    ​* **TSH** (to rule out [[cl:​thyroid-disorders:​hypothyroidism|hypothyroidism]] that can cause a depressive syndrome) 
-    * Creatinine (to rule out renal disease that can present with fatigue, weight loss, poor concentration,​ and other depressive symptoms, and to assess for overall renal function) +    ​* **Creatinine** (to rule out renal disease that can present with fatigue, weight loss, poor concentration,​ and other depressive symptoms, and to assess for overall renal function) 
-    * Electrolytes+    ​* **Electrolytes**
       * Sodium, in particular for hyponatremia (which can present with fatigue, poor concentration,​ and other depressive symptoms)       * Sodium, in particular for hyponatremia (which can present with fatigue, poor concentration,​ and other depressive symptoms)
       * Calcium ([[cl:​hypercalcemia-hyperparathyroidism|hypercalcemia]] may result in neuropsychiatric symptoms including psychosis and depression)       * Calcium ([[cl:​hypercalcemia-hyperparathyroidism|hypercalcemia]] may result in neuropsychiatric symptoms including psychosis and depression)
-    * Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D (because increased PTH and decreased vitamin D may be associated with depressive symptoms) +    ​* **Parathyroid hormone (PTH)** and **vitamin D** (because increased PTH and decreased vitamin D may be associated with depressive symptoms) 
-    * Glucose (to rule out diabetes that can present with fatigue, weight loss, and other depressive symptoms) +    ​* **Glucose** (to rule out diabetes that can present with fatigue, weight loss, and other depressive symptoms) 
-    * Ferritin/​iron+    ​* **Ferritin/​iron** (for fatigue and cognitive impairment)
     * [[cl:​vitamin-b12-cyanocobalamin-deficiency|Vitamin B12]] (to rule out low B12 that can cause a depressive syndrome)     * [[cl:​vitamin-b12-cyanocobalamin-deficiency|Vitamin B12]] (to rule out low B12 that can cause a depressive syndrome)
-    * Folate level (to rule out low folates that can cause a depressive syndrome) +    ​* **Folate level** (to rule out low folates that can cause a depressive syndrome) 
-    * Neuroimaging such as [[neurology:​ct-scan|CT]] or [[neurology:​mri|MRI]] +    ​* **Neuroimaging** such as [[neurology:​ct-scan|CT]] or [[neurology:​mri|MRI]] 
-    * VDRL (screening for [[cl:​neurosyphilis|syphillis]]) +    ​* **VDRL** (screening for [[cl:​neurosyphilis|syphillis]]) 
-    * [[cl:​hiv|HIV]] (for HIV-associated neuropsychiatric presentations or HIV-associated cognitive impairment) +    ​* **[[cl:​hiv|HIV]]** (for HIV-associated neuropsychiatric presentations or HIV-associated cognitive impairment) 
-    * Serum albumin (to assess nutritional status and rule out diseases that can present with depressive symptoms)+    ​* **Serum albumin** (to assess nutritional status and rule out diseases that can present with depressive symptoms) 
 +  - **Medication Review**
     * Medication-induced "​dementia"​     * Medication-induced "​dementia"​
-      ​* Is there polypharmacy that could be contributing to the cognitive impairment?​ +    ​* Is there polypharmacy that could be contributing to the cognitive impairment?​ 
-      * Is there the use of any anticholinergic medications (and [[meds:​toxidromes:​anticholinergic-cholinergic|anticholinergic toxicity]]?​) +    * Is there the use of any anticholinergic medications (and [[meds:​toxidromes:​anticholinergic-cholinergic|anticholinergic toxicity]]?​) 
-      * Is there the use of other medications that could cause cognitive issues? +    * Is there the use of other medications that could cause cognitive issues? 
-        * e.g. - steroid dementia syndrome related to glucocorticoid use.+       ​* e.g. - steroid dementia syndrome related to glucocorticoid use. 
 +  - **Neurological Review**  
 +    * Do a [[neurology:​neuro-exam:​home|neurological exam]] if appropriate
     * Consider other neurological disorders including [[neurology:​approach-normal-pressure-hydrocephalus-nph|normal pressure hydrocephalus]]     * Consider other neurological disorders including [[neurology:​approach-normal-pressure-hydrocephalus-nph|normal pressure hydrocephalus]]
   - **Is it dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or normal aging?**   - **Is it dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or normal aging?**