Risk for converting from mild memory loss to Alzheimer’s dementia.

Risk of converting from mild memory loss to Alzheimer’s dementia-

• The risk factors for progression include-

   ·       Previous head injury.

  ·       Excess alcohol intake.

  ·       Smoking.

  ·       Previous strokes.

  ·       Underlying neuro-degenerative processes such as Parkinson’s disease.

  ·       Previous episodes of delirium or acute confusion with general anaesthetics for surgery.

  ·       Abnormal brain CAT scan or MRI scan with significant white matter changes.

  ·       Primitive reflexes on examination.

  ·       Depression.

  ·       Diabetes.

  ·       Over-treatment of diabetes with hypoglycaemia or low blood glucose levels

  ·       Hypertension.

  ·       Atrial fibrillation (irregular abnormal heart beat)

  ·       High resting heart rate

  ·       Bad dreams

  ·       Lack of sleep

  ·       Shrinkage of medial temporal lobe (memory centre) on brain CT scan.

  ·       Low level of education.

  ·       Playing contact sport such as boxing and Rugby League.

  ·       Reduced verbal fluency and word generation (semantic fluency for words in one category such as animals or phonemic fluency for words starting with a letter).

For more information read Dr Peter Lipski’s book “Your Elderly Parents Failing Health. Is It Ageing Or A Treatable Condition”.