Dementia and TBI

Dementia – Which statement is true? Dementia typically only affects memory. People with dementia may have profound personality changes that go along with dementia. Dementia also affects many other aspects of peoples lives. For example planning and other executive functions are usually impaired, confabulation is common, changes in personality and psychotic symptoms are also common. Progressive decline in cognitive functioning due to damage or disease in the brain Particularly affected areas may be memory, attention, language, and problem solving. Affected persons may be disoriented in time in place, and person. Less than 10% of cases of dementia have been reversed.

Alzheimer’s Intellectual/Cognitive Psychiatric Symptoms are divided into two main categories Intellectual/Cognitive Memory loss, communication difficulty, motor skill deficits (apraxia), inability to interpret sensations properly (agnosia) Psychiatric Personality changes, depression, hallucination, delusions The first symptoms are often confused with the changes that take place in normal aging, it's important to remember that Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. A brain disorder in which the first problem many people notice is forgetfulness severe enough to affect their work, lifelong hobbies, or social life. Gets worse over time. Has no known cure.

What is Delirium? Delirium is a medical term used to describe an acute and relatively sudden (developing over hours to days) decline in attention-focus, perception, and cognition. Delirium can be difficult for clinicians to diagnose. 4

Dementia and Delirium Dementia is a non-specific term encompassing many disease processes. Without careful assessment, delirium can easily be confused with dementia. Delirium is a medical term used to describe an acute and relatively sudden (developing over hours to days) decline in attention-focus, perception, and cognition. 5

Acquired Brain Injury. Which statement is true? Brain injuries can affect all aspects of a person’s life. (True/False) Injuries are permanent and unchangeable (True/False). A complex injury resulting from damage to brain. Broad spectrum of symptoms and disabilities. The impact on a person and their family can be devastating.

Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury Phineas Gage 1823-1860

Phineas Gage Able to speak minutes after accident Able to walk Then long recovery Moderate brain injury is an injury resulting in a loss of consciousness from 20 minutes to 6 hours. Severe brain injury is an injury resulting in a loss of consciousness of greater than 6 hours. Severe TBI often results in severe cognitive deficits, speech and language problems, sensory and perceptual impairment, seizures, physical changes, and social-emotional difficulties.

Asking about TBI Was the person ever hit in the head with a loss of consciousness? Were they hospitalized? Did they need rehabilitation after the injury? Relearning to walk, talk, or use their memory. Do they have a scar? Did their personality and life situation change as compared to before the injury?

Communication tips for working with People with ABIs People with TBI may… Show Confusion Have a poor memory Ramble Go off subject Be socially inappropriate

Communication tips for working with People with ABIs Don’t take these behaviors personally Don’t take them as a sign of disrespect Don’t misread them as a lack of desire for help.

Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Keys for Law Enforcement Respect the Person (Emphasize the person not the disorder.) Be aware of symptoms and potential limitations the individual may have. Understand as much as you can and do not be afraid to ask questions so you become more informed. Get help when you are not certain.

Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Optional Class exercise

Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Thanks! Questions?

Dementia and TBI Post-Test

Dementia – Which statement is true? The most common form of dementia is caused by multiple small strokes. Dementia typically only affects memory. People with dementia may have personality changes that go along with dementia. More than 20% of cases of dementia can be reversed with proper treatment. A. Is incorrect because it also affects many other aspects of peoples lives. For example planning and other executive functions are usually impaired, confabulation is common, changes in personality and psychotic symptoms are also common.

What is the most common form of Dementia? Vascular dementia Credzfeld Jacab’s disease Alzheimer's Frontotemporal dementia The first symptoms are often confused with the changes that take place in normal aging, it's important to remember that Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. A brain disorder in which the first problem many people notice is forgetfulness severe enough to affect their work, lifelong hobbies, or social life. Gets worse over time. Has no known cure.

What is Delirium? It is dementia that with a rapid onset. It is an easy to identify illness that primarily affects memory. It is a rapid decline in attention, perception, and cognition caused by an acute medical problem. It is a illness that people who are young have a particularly high risk for developing. 18

Dementia vs Delirium. Which statement is true? Dementia is a specific term that describes only one medical processes. Dementia and delirium are easy for clinicians to tell apart. Delirium is an urgent medical condition with a high death rate if untreated. People with dementia are at lower risk for developing delirium as their overall brain function is already impaired. 19

Acquired Brain Injury. Which statement is true? Brain injury leads to easily predictable cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. Most long term brain injuries are easy to detect with an MRI. Brain injuries can affect all aspects of a person’s life. Injuries are permanent and improvement is not expected after an injury.

Thanks! Detective Matthew Tinney mtinney@cabq.gov 553-2229 Dr. Nils Rosenbaum narmd123@gmail.com 924-6000 Crisis Intervention Unit Albuquerque Police Department 21