How Do I Know Which Dementia I'm Looking At?

Alejandro de Jesus introduces himself and his role in the webinar, explaining that he works for Tipa Snow's company, Positive Approach to Care, since 2017. He usually mentors during live certification courses but will guide and support viewers through the webinar, providing reviews and context as Tipa presents information quickly.

Alejandro outlines the five main points of the webinar, focusing on identifying dementia versus other conditions, using screening tools, exploring four types of dementia, and additional related topics. He transitions to Tipa's live interaction with the audience and emphasizes the importance of understanding different types of dementia.

Tipa discusses the challenges of recognizing dementia, emphasizing the importance of noting inconsistencies with normal aging, especially under emotional, physical, or physiological stress. She explains the differences between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and full-blown dementia, highlighting the impact on daily life and the importance of baseline behavior for accurate diagnosis.

The focus shifts to early warning signs of dementia, as outlined by the Alzheimer's Association. Tipa stresses the importance of knowing a person's baseline behavior to identify changes. She also touches on the challenges of accurately diagnosing dementia, noting the variability in symptoms and the importance of context in diagnosis.

Tipa explains the four main areas of changes in dementia: memory, language, behavior, and motor skills. She emphasizes the need for a baseline to detect changes and uses visual aids to illustrate these points. Examples include changes in memory recall, language use, behavior patterns, and fine motor skills.

Various diagnostic tools are introduced, such as the AD8, Fromage, SLUMS, and SAGE. Tipa explains the purpose and application of each tool, highlighting their strengths in assessing different aspects of cognitive function and behavior. She emphasizes the importance of multiple perspectives in diagnosing dementia.

Tipa describes different types of dementia under the umbrella term, highlighting Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. She explains the unique characteristics and hallmarks of each type, using visuals and examples to illustrate their impact on the brain and behavior.

Alzheimer's disease is detailed, focusing on its asymmetrical brain changes and hallmark symptoms such as memory loss, language difficulties, and behavioral changes. Tipa explains the differences between young onset and late-life onset Alzheimer's and discusses the progression and impact of the disease.

Tipa discusses vascular dementia, explaining its association with blood flow issues and health conditions like diabetes and hypertension. She highlights the stepwise progression and variability in symptoms, emphasizing the importance of managing physical health to delay the progression of vascular dementia.

Through a role play, Tipa illustrates the challenges of interacting with someone with vascular dementia. The unpredictability of symptoms and the impact on behavior and communication are highlighted, showing the importance of understanding and patience in caregiving.

The summary of vascular dementia continues, emphasizing the good day-bad day pattern, stabilization periods, and the impact of blood flow issues. Tipa uses visuals to explain the brain changes and stresses the importance of balancing physical health management with emotional support for individuals with vascular dementia.

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is introduced, focusing on its symptoms such as visual hallucinations, delusional thinking, and tremors. Tipa explains the differences between resting and intentional tremors and the impact of alpha-synuclein protein malformations. The sensitivity to medications and the unpredictable nature of LBD are also discussed.

Tipa role-plays a person with Lewy body dementia, demonstrating symptoms such as visual disturbances and cognitive fluctuations. The role play emphasizes the challenges in diagnosing and interacting with someone with LBD, highlighting the importance of understanding the person's perspective.

A review of Lewy body dementia is provided, summarizing key symptoms like visual hallucinations, delusional thinking, and tremors. Tipa explains the differences between LBD and other dementias, emphasizing the importance of recognizing these symptoms for accurate diagnosis and support.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is detailed, explaining its variants such as frontal variant, non-fluent aphasia, and fluent aphasia. Tipa describes the behavioral and language changes associated with each type, using examples to illustrate their impact on daily life and communication.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is introduced, explaining its association with repeated head injuries and its impact on the brain. Tipa discusses the symptoms and challenges of CTE, emphasizing the importance of understanding the connection between head trauma and dementia.

A review of frontotemporal dementias is provided, summarizing the different variants and their impact on behavior and language. Tipa explains the importance of recognizing these symptoms for accurate diagnosis and support, highlighting the unique challenges of each variant.

Alejandro concludes the webinar, encouraging viewers to continue learning about different types of dementia and share the information with others. He emphasizes the importance of understanding dementia for better support and caregiving.