NURS 5432 GERIATRIC PATIENT AND
GI DISORDERS IN PRIMARY CARE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025/2026
What is the mini mental evaluation? - correct answersA tool that can be used to thoroughly assess
mental status.
What areas does the mini mental exam assess? - correct answersIt test five areas of cognitive
function: orientation, registration, attention and calculation, recall, and language.
What is the Montreal cognition? - correct answersA rapid screening assessment used for mild
cognitive dysfunction.
What does the Montreal cognition test for? - correct answersAttention and concentration, executive
functions, memory, language, visuoconstructional skills, conceptual thinking, calculations, and
orientation.
What is Delirium? - correct answersA sudden onset of clouded sensorium that can occur at any age
associated with a physical stressor.
What are the causes for Delirium? - correct answersToxins, alcohol/drug abuse, trauma, Impactions
in the elderly, poor nutrition, electrolyte imbalances, anesthesia and septicemia.
What is the management of Delirium? - correct answersTreat the underlying cause
What is Dementia? - correct answersA chronic progressive cognitive impairment
What are the causes of Dementia? - correct answersAtherosclerosis, neurotransmitter deficits,
cortical atrophy, ventricular dilation, loss of brain cells, possible viral causes, Alzheimer's disease,
Lewy body dementia
What are the first line treatment drugs used to treat Alzheimer's? - correct answersBest in mild to
moderate disease; may be effective in Lewy body dementia.
Donepezil (Aricept): Start at 5 mg/day PO; may increase to 10 mg/day after 1 month, may increase to
23 mg/day after 3 months if needed. Orally disintegrating tablets; generic available. Caution with
digoxin or β-blockers (Donepezil may prolong PR interval.)
Rivastigmine (Exelon): Start at 1.5 mg PO BID and increase by 1.5 mg BID every 2 weeks;
maintenance 6 to 12 mg/day total Capsule, solution, or patch (reduced side effects)
Galantamine (Razadyne): Start at 4 mg BID for 4 weeks and then increase by 4 mg BID every month
with goal of 16 to 24 mg/day dose.
Tablets, solution, extended-release (ER) capsule, and transdermal formulations
, Vitamin E—2,000 IU/day supplementation was found to slow decline in one study.
Memantine, a N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist for moderate to severe AD
Monotherapy or in combination with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, Memantine immediate release:
5 mg/day; titrate up to 10 mg BID, adding 5 mg/day every week PRN.
Memantine extended release: 7 mg/day up to 28 mg/day, adding 7 mg/day every week PRN
What type of inhibitors are used to treat Alzheimer's - correct answersAcetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
(ChEIs)
What are the side effects of Alzheimer's drugs? - correct answersAll have potential for GI and other
side effects, such as bradycardia/syncope.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms: assessment and treatment for delirium, environmental modification,
sleep hygiene, exercise, cognitive interventions, hearing/vision aids, and if necessary for moderate to
severe symptoms, consider second-line care
What are the second line drugs used to treat Alzheimer's? - correct answersFor moderate to severe
depression: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) preferred
Insomnia: Medications have little efficacy for sleep in AD.
Avoid diphenhydramine and antihistamines in elderly due to negative side effects.
If using low-dose risperidone, trazodone, or sleep aid (e.g., zolpidem), use caution and lowest dose
possible in elderly.
Moderate agitation, anxiety/restlessness: first-line care; may consider low-dose risperidone or SSRIs
(citalopram)
Risperidone at low dose for severe psychosis and safety concern; treatment not usually required
Precautions
Avoid anticholinergic drugs when possible.
Benzodiazepines may produce paradoxical excitation or daytime drowsiness.
Triazolam (Halcion) can produce confusion, memory loss, and psychotic behavior.
GI DISORDERS IN PRIMARY CARE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025/2026
What is the mini mental evaluation? - correct answersA tool that can be used to thoroughly assess
mental status.
What areas does the mini mental exam assess? - correct answersIt test five areas of cognitive
function: orientation, registration, attention and calculation, recall, and language.
What is the Montreal cognition? - correct answersA rapid screening assessment used for mild
cognitive dysfunction.
What does the Montreal cognition test for? - correct answersAttention and concentration, executive
functions, memory, language, visuoconstructional skills, conceptual thinking, calculations, and
orientation.
What is Delirium? - correct answersA sudden onset of clouded sensorium that can occur at any age
associated with a physical stressor.
What are the causes for Delirium? - correct answersToxins, alcohol/drug abuse, trauma, Impactions
in the elderly, poor nutrition, electrolyte imbalances, anesthesia and septicemia.
What is the management of Delirium? - correct answersTreat the underlying cause
What is Dementia? - correct answersA chronic progressive cognitive impairment
What are the causes of Dementia? - correct answersAtherosclerosis, neurotransmitter deficits,
cortical atrophy, ventricular dilation, loss of brain cells, possible viral causes, Alzheimer's disease,
Lewy body dementia
What are the first line treatment drugs used to treat Alzheimer's? - correct answersBest in mild to
moderate disease; may be effective in Lewy body dementia.
Donepezil (Aricept): Start at 5 mg/day PO; may increase to 10 mg/day after 1 month, may increase to
23 mg/day after 3 months if needed. Orally disintegrating tablets; generic available. Caution with
digoxin or β-blockers (Donepezil may prolong PR interval.)
Rivastigmine (Exelon): Start at 1.5 mg PO BID and increase by 1.5 mg BID every 2 weeks;
maintenance 6 to 12 mg/day total Capsule, solution, or patch (reduced side effects)
Galantamine (Razadyne): Start at 4 mg BID for 4 weeks and then increase by 4 mg BID every month
with goal of 16 to 24 mg/day dose.
Tablets, solution, extended-release (ER) capsule, and transdermal formulations
, Vitamin E—2,000 IU/day supplementation was found to slow decline in one study.
Memantine, a N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist for moderate to severe AD
Monotherapy or in combination with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, Memantine immediate release:
5 mg/day; titrate up to 10 mg BID, adding 5 mg/day every week PRN.
Memantine extended release: 7 mg/day up to 28 mg/day, adding 7 mg/day every week PRN
What type of inhibitors are used to treat Alzheimer's - correct answersAcetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
(ChEIs)
What are the side effects of Alzheimer's drugs? - correct answersAll have potential for GI and other
side effects, such as bradycardia/syncope.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms: assessment and treatment for delirium, environmental modification,
sleep hygiene, exercise, cognitive interventions, hearing/vision aids, and if necessary for moderate to
severe symptoms, consider second-line care
What are the second line drugs used to treat Alzheimer's? - correct answersFor moderate to severe
depression: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) preferred
Insomnia: Medications have little efficacy for sleep in AD.
Avoid diphenhydramine and antihistamines in elderly due to negative side effects.
If using low-dose risperidone, trazodone, or sleep aid (e.g., zolpidem), use caution and lowest dose
possible in elderly.
Moderate agitation, anxiety/restlessness: first-line care; may consider low-dose risperidone or SSRIs
(citalopram)
Risperidone at low dose for severe psychosis and safety concern; treatment not usually required
Precautions
Avoid anticholinergic drugs when possible.
Benzodiazepines may produce paradoxical excitation or daytime drowsiness.
Triazolam (Halcion) can produce confusion, memory loss, and psychotic behavior.
