NUR 320 Exam 1 UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What happens to neurotransmitters in normal aging? Possible loss, e.g., reduced dopaminergic function.
How does cerebral blood flow change with age? Decreases due to changes in cardiovascular and respiratory systems, or less
demand from brain, or reduced astrocytes
How does sensory function change with age? Diminished; slower response to stimuli.
What happens to brain ventricles in older adults? Ventricles enlarge (>60 y/o).
What happens to neurons and brain weight with age? Some neuronal loss/shrinkage; reduced brain weight (esp. white matter).
List cognitive abilities that normally decline with age. Information processing speed
Divided attention
Rapidly switching auditory input
Sustained attention/vigilance
Filtering irrelevant info
Visual-spatial tasks
Word finding
Abstract reasoning
Mental flexibility
, Define dementia. Decline from previous level of function in ≥1 cognitive domain (attention,
executive function, language, memory, perceptual-motor, social cognition);
umbrella term for diseases like Alzheimer's, vascular, Lewy body,
frontotemporal.
Define delirium. Sudden cognitive impairment/confusion; a medical emergency.
What are major causes/risk factors for delirium D-dementia/dehydration
(mnemonic)? E-electrolytes/emotion
L-lung/liver/heart/kidney
I-infection/ICU; R-Rx drugs
I-injury/immobility
U-untreated pain/unfamiliar environment
M-metabolic disorders.
How does the onset of dementia typically present? Gradual/insidious; develops over 4-8 years.
How does the onset of delirium typically present? Abrupt (hours-days), although may be subtle at first.
How does the onset of depression typically present? Often abrupt; coincides with life changes.
What is the progression/duration of dementia? Slow, progressive decline over years (average 8 years but can be longer).
What is the progression/duration of delirium? Rapid fluctuation over hours to days (can last weeks if underlying cause
persists).
What is the progression/duration of depression? Variable—may be rapid or slow, months to years if untreated.
How is thinking affected in dementia? Difficulty with abstract thinking, impaired judgment, word-finding problems.
How is thinking affected in delirium? Disorganized, distorted; slow or accelerated incoherent speech.
How is thinking affected in depression? Generally intact but with apathy, fatigue, indecision, hopelessness.
What perceptual changes occur in dementia? Misperceptions common; delusions and hallucinations may occur.
What perceptual changes occur in delirium? Distorted perception; delusions and hallucinations frequent.
What perceptual changes occur in depression? May deny or be unaware of depression; feelings of guilt; often
withdrawn/hypoactive.
Describe psychomotor changes in dementia. May pace or be hyperactive; later unable to perform tasks/movements on
command.
Describe psychomotor changes in delirium. Variable—hyperactive, hypoactive, or mixed.
Describe psychomotor changes in depression. Often withdrawn and hypoactive.
Describe sleep–wake changes in dementia. Daytime sleepiness, frequent nighttime awakenings, fragmented sleep.
Describe sleep–wake changes in delirium. Disturbed sleep with reversed sleep-wake cycle.
Answers
What happens to neurotransmitters in normal aging? Possible loss, e.g., reduced dopaminergic function.
How does cerebral blood flow change with age? Decreases due to changes in cardiovascular and respiratory systems, or less
demand from brain, or reduced astrocytes
How does sensory function change with age? Diminished; slower response to stimuli.
What happens to brain ventricles in older adults? Ventricles enlarge (>60 y/o).
What happens to neurons and brain weight with age? Some neuronal loss/shrinkage; reduced brain weight (esp. white matter).
List cognitive abilities that normally decline with age. Information processing speed
Divided attention
Rapidly switching auditory input
Sustained attention/vigilance
Filtering irrelevant info
Visual-spatial tasks
Word finding
Abstract reasoning
Mental flexibility
, Define dementia. Decline from previous level of function in ≥1 cognitive domain (attention,
executive function, language, memory, perceptual-motor, social cognition);
umbrella term for diseases like Alzheimer's, vascular, Lewy body,
frontotemporal.
Define delirium. Sudden cognitive impairment/confusion; a medical emergency.
What are major causes/risk factors for delirium D-dementia/dehydration
(mnemonic)? E-electrolytes/emotion
L-lung/liver/heart/kidney
I-infection/ICU; R-Rx drugs
I-injury/immobility
U-untreated pain/unfamiliar environment
M-metabolic disorders.
How does the onset of dementia typically present? Gradual/insidious; develops over 4-8 years.
How does the onset of delirium typically present? Abrupt (hours-days), although may be subtle at first.
How does the onset of depression typically present? Often abrupt; coincides with life changes.
What is the progression/duration of dementia? Slow, progressive decline over years (average 8 years but can be longer).
What is the progression/duration of delirium? Rapid fluctuation over hours to days (can last weeks if underlying cause
persists).
What is the progression/duration of depression? Variable—may be rapid or slow, months to years if untreated.
How is thinking affected in dementia? Difficulty with abstract thinking, impaired judgment, word-finding problems.
How is thinking affected in delirium? Disorganized, distorted; slow or accelerated incoherent speech.
How is thinking affected in depression? Generally intact but with apathy, fatigue, indecision, hopelessness.
What perceptual changes occur in dementia? Misperceptions common; delusions and hallucinations may occur.
What perceptual changes occur in delirium? Distorted perception; delusions and hallucinations frequent.
What perceptual changes occur in depression? May deny or be unaware of depression; feelings of guilt; often
withdrawn/hypoactive.
Describe psychomotor changes in dementia. May pace or be hyperactive; later unable to perform tasks/movements on
command.
Describe psychomotor changes in delirium. Variable—hyperactive, hypoactive, or mixed.
Describe psychomotor changes in depression. Often withdrawn and hypoactive.
Describe sleep–wake changes in dementia. Daytime sleepiness, frequent nighttime awakenings, fragmented sleep.
Describe sleep–wake changes in delirium. Disturbed sleep with reversed sleep-wake cycle.
