WGU D027
WGU D027 Exam Patho
pharmacological Advanced
Foundations Objective Final Exam
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - - 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? - - There is no cure, but there are pharmacological and non-
pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? - - 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? - - 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? - - Donepezil (aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
WGU D027
,WGU D027
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's? - - Donepezil
(aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's? -
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's? - - Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's? - -
Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
What is memantine (namenda) used for? - - 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? - - 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)? - - Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas
memantine (namenda) regulates the activity of glutamate
What is ataxia? - - Also known as cerebellum attacks
- Degenerative disease of the nervous system
WGU D027
,WGU D027
- Many symptoms mimic those of being drunk (i.e. slurred speech, stumbling, falling, and
incoordination)
What causes the symptoms of ataxia? - - 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? - - 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? - - Genetic predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)? - - 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
WGU D027
, WGU D027
Since Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an X-linked disorder, does a specific gender have a
greater risk? - - Often, females are carriers and males are affected
- However, both males and females can be carriers, and both can be affected by the
condition
- Usually milder in females
How did Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) get its name? - - The gene Fragile X (the FMR1
gene) is on the X syndrome
- Mutation of the FMR1 gene
What is the difference between Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)? - - Both caused by mutations on the FMR1 gene, but
they are caused by different changes in this gene
- FXS is caused by a full mutation
- FXTAS is a premutation
- FXS is present at birth, but display these features in early life
- FXTAS develops in adulthood (usually after age 50) and the symptoms may appear
slowly and develop over the years
- FXTAS individuals are usually healthy with normal cognitive skills prior to the onset
How is Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) diagnosed? - - Being a
FMR1 premutation carrier
- The appearance of neurological features such as ataxia (balance problems), tremors, and
other symptoms
- MRI findings (changes in the brain)
What is Prader-Willie Syndrome? - - Genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body
and their growth
WGU D027
WGU D027 Exam Patho
pharmacological Advanced
Foundations Objective Final Exam
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - - 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? - - There is no cure, but there are pharmacological and non-
pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? - - 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? - - 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? - - Donepezil (aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
WGU D027
,WGU D027
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's? - - Donepezil
(aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's? -
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's? - - Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's? - -
Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
What is memantine (namenda) used for? - - 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? - - 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)? - - Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas
memantine (namenda) regulates the activity of glutamate
What is ataxia? - - Also known as cerebellum attacks
- Degenerative disease of the nervous system
WGU D027
,WGU D027
- Many symptoms mimic those of being drunk (i.e. slurred speech, stumbling, falling, and
incoordination)
What causes the symptoms of ataxia? - - 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? - - 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? - - Genetic predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)? - - 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
WGU D027
, WGU D027
Since Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an X-linked disorder, does a specific gender have a
greater risk? - - Often, females are carriers and males are affected
- However, both males and females can be carriers, and both can be affected by the
condition
- Usually milder in females
How did Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) get its name? - - The gene Fragile X (the FMR1
gene) is on the X syndrome
- Mutation of the FMR1 gene
What is the difference between Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)? - - Both caused by mutations on the FMR1 gene, but
they are caused by different changes in this gene
- FXS is caused by a full mutation
- FXTAS is a premutation
- FXS is present at birth, but display these features in early life
- FXTAS develops in adulthood (usually after age 50) and the symptoms may appear
slowly and develop over the years
- FXTAS individuals are usually healthy with normal cognitive skills prior to the onset
How is Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) diagnosed? - - Being a
FMR1 premutation carrier
- The appearance of neurological features such as ataxia (balance problems), tremors, and
other symptoms
- MRI findings (changes in the brain)
What is Prader-Willie Syndrome? - - Genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body
and their growth
WGU D027
