Comprehensive Neurodegenerative
Dementias: Alzheimer's, Vascular,
Frontotemporal, Lewy Body, Normal Pressure
Hydrocephalus, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob
Disease with High-Yield Clinical Features,
Imaging Findings, Genetic Risk Factors,
Pathophysiology, Behavioral Syndromes, and
Pharmacologic Interventions for Board
Examination Mastery Questions Complete
with Verified A+ Graded Rationales Latest
Updated 2026
Alzheimer's Dementia
Criteria: memory impairment + 1
development of multiple cognitive defects
(aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, executive function)
Progressive memory loss:
memory → language → visuospatial
Brain imaging:
- atrophy
- beta amyloid plaques & tangles (tau)
Symptoms:
"Sundowning"
Depression, irritability, agitation
Loss of learned motor skills and language
What is present on brain imaging of PT with AD?
pathological features of AD
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, Diagnosis CONFIRMED post mortem
brain atrophy
beta amyloid plaques
neurofibrillary tangles (tau → flame cells)
loss on synapse (↓ ACH)
What gene is a risk factor for Alzheimer's?
ApoE 4
- heterozygote = late onset
- homozygous = early onset
What is a common drug for Alzheimer's treatment?
Donne has alzheimers
Donepezil (aricept)
- acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Delirium (HY)
acute, transient and fluctuating state of confusion/disorganized thinking from sickness,
reversible after treatment of illness
A 70 year old PT presents with progressive memory loss. You were initially considering AD until
look at the patient's history and finding a history of multiple strokes. What is your new working
diagnosis?
vascular dementia
vascular dementia
Binswanger Disease = subcortical vascular dementia
What 2 mandatory categories?
cognitive declines caused by ischemic, hemorrhagic or oligemic injury to the brain
- both dementia and history of stroke w/n 3 months MUST be present for this to be the
diagnosis
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Dementias: Alzheimer's, Vascular,
Frontotemporal, Lewy Body, Normal Pressure
Hydrocephalus, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob
Disease with High-Yield Clinical Features,
Imaging Findings, Genetic Risk Factors,
Pathophysiology, Behavioral Syndromes, and
Pharmacologic Interventions for Board
Examination Mastery Questions Complete
with Verified A+ Graded Rationales Latest
Updated 2026
Alzheimer's Dementia
Criteria: memory impairment + 1
development of multiple cognitive defects
(aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, executive function)
Progressive memory loss:
memory → language → visuospatial
Brain imaging:
- atrophy
- beta amyloid plaques & tangles (tau)
Symptoms:
"Sundowning"
Depression, irritability, agitation
Loss of learned motor skills and language
What is present on brain imaging of PT with AD?
pathological features of AD
1|Page
, Diagnosis CONFIRMED post mortem
brain atrophy
beta amyloid plaques
neurofibrillary tangles (tau → flame cells)
loss on synapse (↓ ACH)
What gene is a risk factor for Alzheimer's?
ApoE 4
- heterozygote = late onset
- homozygous = early onset
What is a common drug for Alzheimer's treatment?
Donne has alzheimers
Donepezil (aricept)
- acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Delirium (HY)
acute, transient and fluctuating state of confusion/disorganized thinking from sickness,
reversible after treatment of illness
A 70 year old PT presents with progressive memory loss. You were initially considering AD until
look at the patient's history and finding a history of multiple strokes. What is your new working
diagnosis?
vascular dementia
vascular dementia
Binswanger Disease = subcortical vascular dementia
What 2 mandatory categories?
cognitive declines caused by ischemic, hemorrhagic or oligemic injury to the brain
- both dementia and history of stroke w/n 3 months MUST be present for this to be the
diagnosis
2|Page
