Neuropsychology Central

[matthewclarke8786]

Hello all, I'm a second yr medical student in the UK and am currently studying a neuroscience module. For the exam I was given a case history a week prior to my exam, which i will then have to answer short essay questions on. The issue is knowing what i need to prepare myself for and areas related to the subject in the case study. The case study is as follows:

The husband of a 51 year old woman noticed a decline in her memory- she often could not find her way around around their home and she kept losing household items. There was also a change in her personality - sometimes she hid herself or thought that people were out to kill her causing her to scream loudly. The woman was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease.

The difficulty i have with this case study is that the age of the patient reflects neither; the typical onset age for schizophrenia (~20) or the typical age for early onset Alzheimers, which in the severity of this case (late stage alzheimers with lost household items and delusions) is not usaully as early as 51 (am I wrong?). Also, what i find strange is the extent to her delusions.
My fear is that i may enter the exam to have them, which they are very much allowed to do, turn around and say that the diagnosis was wrong?/what do you think the diagnosis is?/ explain this diagnosis.
I have revised memory, limbic system, schizophrenia and alzheimers disease for this so far, is there anything else i should know about? Also does anyone have a different diagnosis? (tumour?).
Thank you all for your valuable time, matthew.
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M.CLARKE

[bradmtsu]

Was the decline in memory sudden or progressively degenerative? How long has she had the memory problems? Any hallucinations? Drug use? Any hx of mental illness in the family? Head injury? There are lots of factors to consider here to make a clear dx.