May 20, 2012

Posts Comments

SLUMS Examination & The Geriatric Depression Scale

October 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Presenter David A. Smith, MD, FAAFP, CMD, conducts the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) examination and the Geriatric Depression Scale with 3 elderly participants. The SLUMS Examination is a screening tool for dementia developed by Saint Louis University geriatricians which identifies mild cognitive problems in the elderly. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a 30-item self-report assessment used to identify depression in the elderly. To view this video in full go to mmLearn.org mmlearn.org is a program of Morningside Ministries

Filed Under: Dementia Scale Tagged With: , , , ,

Alzheimer’s and Dementia – What’s the Difference?

September 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Alzheimer’s and Dementia – What’s the Difference?

Article by Amy Weisser









Because Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, people often commonly use that term to mean any kind of general dementia. But there are many other causes of dementia besides Alzheimer’s Disease. Dementia is a very broad, general term used to describe the brain’s intellectual impairment, impeding our ability to carry out the skills necessary for everyday living. Examples are loss of memory and language skills, lack of judgment, and complex motor skills. Dementia is not a disease. Alzheimer’s is. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that involves specific abnormalities of the brain. It’s a progressive, degenerative disease caused by the death, or permanent dysfunction of brain cells. Alzheimer’s patients usually start by losing their memory, and eventually progress to the point of losing their overall mental and physical functioning. The causes are still unknown and there is no specific treatment available to cure it, or even to stop the progressive death of the brain cells. The best we have at this point are medicines that slow the progression of the symptoms…….help hold the line. There is no reversal, no going back. Estimates put the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s at approximately five million people. It’s the seventh leading cause of death in our country. Yet Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. There is no way to diagnose it with 100% accuracy, except by an autopsy after death. Saying that, however, a clinician today can diagnose Alzheimer’s with approximately 90% accuracy. Since no one can see the abnormalities of the brain, a doctor will employ several steps in making a diagnosis. Often the first step is to take the patient’s medical history, speaking directly to the patient and carefully listening for answers. A thorough physical examination may come next. Laboratory tests, such as for blood and urine, are ordered. Special neuropsychological tests are given, often by a specialist, to measure memory, problem solving skills, and language usage. Finally, a CT scan or an MRI may be given. Both these scans provide a look at large-scale brain structure. The small-scale abnormalities caused by brain cell death in Alzheimer’s cannot be seen with these scans, but it is hoped that newer scans will be developed in the future to accomplish that. To give a better picture of dementia, I’ve listed other conditions that may cause result in its onset. Here are five: 1) Various diseases that destroy brain cells, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Huntington’s chorea 2) Medical conditions that block the flow of oxygen to the brain, such as suffering a stroke 3) Dehydration, very poor nutrition, and drug and/or alcohol abuse 4) Trauma to the head, or repeated brain injury 5) Illnesses that affect the central nervous system such as brain tumors, depression, or Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease (mad-cow) Arm yourself with information. Check out the website for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Remember, knowing is half the battle.



About the Author

Amy Weisser is the Case Manager at Heavenly Helpers Senior Home Care. Heavenly Helpers is an independent, non medical home care agency proudly serving the St. Louis, Missouri Metro area. While our office is located in the heart of Webster Groves, we provide care throughout St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson County.

For more information, please visit us at http://www.heavenlyhelpers.net/










Filed Under: Dementia Scale Tagged With: , , ,