NURS 1016: CLINICAL ISSUES EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Dementia
Syndrome of progressive cognitive impairment that
affects everyday functioning
Neuropathology of AD
Reduction in acetylcholine levels
Reduction in neuronal synapses
Plaques are formed between neurons
Tangles are formed inside neurons
Cognitive symptoms of AD
Memory
Aphasia
Visual perception
Executive function
Behavioral symptoms of AD
,Agitation
Wandering
Personality changes
Hallucinations/ delusions
Risk factors/determinants of dementia
Age and genetics are risks factors for dementia that cannot
be changed
risk of dementia be reduced through
1. Healthy diet
2. Exercise
3. Social engagement
4. Intellectual activity
Dementia trajectory
• Dementia is often described in stages
• Early, mild to moderate, and severe dementia are characterized by
different symptoms
• Decline occurs over a period of years
Early stages of AD
, The early development of plaques and tangles begins to affect:
Learning and memory
Thinking and planning
Mild to Moderate AD
Cognitive problems start to interfere with work and social life.
People may begin to have difficulty with language.
They may experience
periods of confusion
Severe AD
Affected people lose their ability to
communicate.
They have trouble recognizing family and loved ones.
They are no longer able to care for themselves.
Diagnosis and treatment of Dementia
• There is no preventive treatment or cure for dementia
• There are a few medications to slow the progression of the disease -
effects are observable, but modest
1. Cholinesterase inhibitors (CIs)
• donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon)
ANSWERS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Dementia
Syndrome of progressive cognitive impairment that
affects everyday functioning
Neuropathology of AD
Reduction in acetylcholine levels
Reduction in neuronal synapses
Plaques are formed between neurons
Tangles are formed inside neurons
Cognitive symptoms of AD
Memory
Aphasia
Visual perception
Executive function
Behavioral symptoms of AD
,Agitation
Wandering
Personality changes
Hallucinations/ delusions
Risk factors/determinants of dementia
Age and genetics are risks factors for dementia that cannot
be changed
risk of dementia be reduced through
1. Healthy diet
2. Exercise
3. Social engagement
4. Intellectual activity
Dementia trajectory
• Dementia is often described in stages
• Early, mild to moderate, and severe dementia are characterized by
different symptoms
• Decline occurs over a period of years
Early stages of AD
, The early development of plaques and tangles begins to affect:
Learning and memory
Thinking and planning
Mild to Moderate AD
Cognitive problems start to interfere with work and social life.
People may begin to have difficulty with language.
They may experience
periods of confusion
Severe AD
Affected people lose their ability to
communicate.
They have trouble recognizing family and loved ones.
They are no longer able to care for themselves.
Diagnosis and treatment of Dementia
• There is no preventive treatment or cure for dementia
• There are a few medications to slow the progression of the disease -
effects are observable, but modest
1. Cholinesterase inhibitors (CIs)
• donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon)
