What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - ANSWER-- Brain
shrinks dramatically; nerve cell death and tissue loss
- Cardinal signs: plaques (abnormal clusters of protein fragments) and tangles (twisted
strands of another protein)
How is Alzheimer's treated? - ANSWER-- There is no cure, but there are
pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? - ANSWER-- To treat symptoms
related to memory, thinking, language, judgment, and other processes
- Helps delay or slow the worsening of symptoms
What does cholinesterase inhibitors do? - ANSWER-- Prevent the breakdown of
acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that is important for learning and memory
- Supports communication among nerve cells by keeping the acetylcholine high
,What are some commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors? - ANSWER-- Donepezil
(aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's? - ANSWER--
Donepezil (aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's?
- ANSWER-- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's? - ANSWER-- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's? -
ANSWER-- Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
What is memantine (namenda) used for? - ANSWER-- Prescribed to improve memory,
attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks
,- Can be used alone or with other Alzheimer's disease treatments
How does memantine (namenda) work? - ANSWER-- Regulates the activity of
glutamate, a chemical involved in information processing, storage, and retrieval
- Improves mental functioning and ability to perform daily activities for some people
What is the difference in MOA between cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine
(namenda)? - ANSWER-- Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of
acetylcholine, whereas memantine (namenda) regulates the activity of glutamate
What is ataxia? - ANSWER-- Also known as cerebellum attacks
- Degenerative disease of the nervous system
- Many symptoms mimic those of being drunk (i.e. slurred speech, stumbling, falling,
and incoordination)
What causes the symptoms of ataxia? - ANSWER-- The damage caused to the
cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for coordinating movements
- Can also be caused by damage to part of the spinal cord and nerves
What is the treatment for ataxia? - ANSWER-- No treatment
, - In some cases, treating the underlying causes (i.e. stopping medications that cause
ataxia)
- In other cases, it is a result from chicken pox or other viral infections (likely to resolve
on its own)
- Genetic causes/predisposed disposition is usually chronic
What causes ataxia in the pediatric population? - ANSWER-- Genetic predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)? - ANSWER-- A genetic condition inherited from
parents which results in various developmental problems
- Rare, but may be dangerous or life-threatening
- Present at birth and is a lifelong condition
- Rarely requires lab testing or imaging
- Often linked to autism (1/3 do have autism)
- X-linked disorder
Since Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an X-linked disorder, does a specific gender have a
greater risk? - ANSWER-- Often, females are carriers and males are affected
shrinks dramatically; nerve cell death and tissue loss
- Cardinal signs: plaques (abnormal clusters of protein fragments) and tangles (twisted
strands of another protein)
How is Alzheimer's treated? - ANSWER-- There is no cure, but there are
pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? - ANSWER-- To treat symptoms
related to memory, thinking, language, judgment, and other processes
- Helps delay or slow the worsening of symptoms
What does cholinesterase inhibitors do? - ANSWER-- Prevent the breakdown of
acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that is important for learning and memory
- Supports communication among nerve cells by keeping the acetylcholine high
,What are some commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors? - ANSWER-- Donepezil
(aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's? - ANSWER--
Donepezil (aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's?
- ANSWER-- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's? - ANSWER-- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's? -
ANSWER-- Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
What is memantine (namenda) used for? - ANSWER-- Prescribed to improve memory,
attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks
,- Can be used alone or with other Alzheimer's disease treatments
How does memantine (namenda) work? - ANSWER-- Regulates the activity of
glutamate, a chemical involved in information processing, storage, and retrieval
- Improves mental functioning and ability to perform daily activities for some people
What is the difference in MOA between cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine
(namenda)? - ANSWER-- Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of
acetylcholine, whereas memantine (namenda) regulates the activity of glutamate
What is ataxia? - ANSWER-- Also known as cerebellum attacks
- Degenerative disease of the nervous system
- Many symptoms mimic those of being drunk (i.e. slurred speech, stumbling, falling,
and incoordination)
What causes the symptoms of ataxia? - ANSWER-- The damage caused to the
cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for coordinating movements
- Can also be caused by damage to part of the spinal cord and nerves
What is the treatment for ataxia? - ANSWER-- No treatment
, - In some cases, treating the underlying causes (i.e. stopping medications that cause
ataxia)
- In other cases, it is a result from chicken pox or other viral infections (likely to resolve
on its own)
- Genetic causes/predisposed disposition is usually chronic
What causes ataxia in the pediatric population? - ANSWER-- Genetic predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)? - ANSWER-- A genetic condition inherited from
parents which results in various developmental problems
- Rare, but may be dangerous or life-threatening
- Present at birth and is a lifelong condition
- Rarely requires lab testing or imaging
- Often linked to autism (1/3 do have autism)
- X-linked disorder
Since Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an X-linked disorder, does a specific gender have a
greater risk? - ANSWER-- Often, females are carriers and males are affected
