Rapidly Progressing Dementia

6 Cognitive Domains (DSM-V Neurocog Disorders Criteria)

Language: word-finding difficulties, using wrong words or phrases, grammatical errors, difficulty understanding speech of others, difficulty understanding written material

Learning and Memory: difficulty recalling recent events, repeating self, misplacing objects, losing track of actions already performed, increasing reliance of lists and/or reminders

Perceptual-motor/visuospatial: poor sense of direction, getting lost in the home and other familiar places, getting lost while driving familiar routes, relying on maps/GPS for directions, bumping into objects, misjudging distances/getting into car accidents, difficulty using familiar appliances

Executive: difficulty with multi-stage tasks, planning, organizing, multi-tasking, following directions, making decisions, keeping up with rapidly shifting conversations

Complex Attention: normal tasks take longer, especially when there are competing stimuli present, easily distracted, tasks need to be simplified, difficulty holding information in mind to perform calculations or dial a phone number

Social Recognition: disinhibition or apathy, loss of empathy, inappropriate behavior, poor insight, poor judgement

Characterize Dementia

Clear stressor or other precipitating event

Rate of symptom onset:

Morbidity

Highest level of education attained

History of childhood learning difficulties

Currently employed

Difficulties with work performance

Able to perform ADLs

Able to perform IADLs

Currently driving

Rapidly Progressing Dementia

6 Cognitive Domains (DSM-V Neurocog Disorders Criteria)

Characterize Dementia

Morbidity

Prior Workup

Differential Diagnosis