Supporting documents such as webinar slides, transcript, and additional resources are available to download by scrolling to the attachments section below.
Description:
Several atypical dementia syndromes may be confused with the more common diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is important for providers to distinguish among these diagnoses because the management strategies that are effective in the care of adults with AD are often not effective with individuals with these atypical dementias. Three of the most common of these syndromes are:
- Vascular dementia – cognitive deficits most often associated with vascular damage in the brain, either micro or macro in nature.
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies – a dementia that also includes one or more of these core findings: recurrent and detailed visual hallucinations, parkinsonian signs, and fluctuating changes in alertness or attention.
- Frontotemporal dementia – a disease often seen in individuals with onset of cognitive symptoms at a younger age; these individuals present most often with executive and language dysfunction and significant behavioral changes.
This webinar is intended for a wide range of stakeholders – physicians, nurses, social workers, care managers, family caregivers, staff at social service agencies, managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) and other health plans, consumer organizations, and those who care for people with dementia.
By the end of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Identify key distinguishing diagnostic features of the more common atypical dementias
- Identify key strategies for preventing or reducing difficult behaviors associated with Frontotemporal dementia or Lewy Body Dementia
- Recognize the impact of these atypical dementias on adults and their families and how to address the resultant care challenges
Webinar Presenters:
- Melinda S. Lantz, MD, Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
- Geri Hall, PhD, ARNP, CNS, FAAN, Banner Health, Phoenix, AZ
- Rebekah Wilson, MSW, Dementia Care Consultant and Trainer
- Sharon Hall, Family Caregiver