Nurs 615 Midterm Exam Broad Questions with
Correct and Confirmed Graded A+ Answers. Assured
Pass.
Terms in this set (187)
A sudden onset of severe confusion and disorientation that is
What is delirium?
usually caused by an underlying medical condition (UTI,
sepsis, etc)
What is mild neurocognitive A subtle decline in cognitive abilities that does not significantly
disorder (dementia)? interfere with daily life. 50% of individuals with MCD will
progress to Alzheimer's disease over 4 years
A significant decline in cognitive abilities that interferes with
What is major neurocognitive
disorder? daily activities and independence
What is the etiology of more prevalent in women, family history is common, patients
major neurocognitive with DM, smoking, HTN, CVA
disorder?
What are signs and symptoms of Short-term memory loss, word-finding difficulty, visuospatial
major neurocognitive disorder? dysfunction, and executive dysfunction
What is alzheimer's disease? caused by a buildup of proteins (amyloids) in the neocortex
memory loss, changes in behavior, difficulty completing tasks.
What are s/s of alzheimer's Depression, social withdrawal, and anxiety occur in early disease
disease?
stages and may represent a prodrome before cognitive
symptoms are apparent
Amyloid PET imaging confirms the presence of neuritic and
How to diagnose alzheimer's
disease? diffuse plaques throughout the neocortex
Slow cognitive decline, manage symptoms (cognitive, behavioral),
support caregivers—no disease-modifying cure exists yet.
Cholinesterase inhibitors (improve symptoms): Donepezil (5-10
Treatment for alzheimer's disease mg/day), Rivastigmine (6-12 mg/day oral, 9.5-13.3 mg patch),
Galantamine (16-24 mg/day). Boost acetylcholine (depleted in
AD) by inhibiting breakdown—helps memory, attention.
,NMDA receptor antagonist Drug: Memantine (10 mg BID
or 28 mg XR). Blocks glutamate excitotoxicity—protects
neurons, aids moderate-severe AD.
, Dopamine Neuron Loss: PD stems from degeneration of
What is parkinson's disease? dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta
(SNpc), a region of the midbrain. This reduces dopamine in
the basal ganglia (striatum), disrupting motor control
circuits.
Lewy Bodies: Intracellular aggregates of misfolded alpha-
Pathology of parkinson's synuclein protein are the hallmark. They spread in a
predictable pattern (Braak staging), starting in the brainstem
and progressing to the cortex.
PD is a clinical diagnosis—no single test confirms it. Based on
How to diagnose parkinson's history, exam, and response to therapy, per Movement
Disorder Society (MDS) criteria. Imaging and biomarkers aid
but aren’t definitive.
Cardinal Motor Symptoms (Core for Diagnosis):
Bradykinesia: Slowness of movement—must be present. Seen
as reduced arm swing, slow finger taps.
Resting Tremor: 4-6 Hz “pill-rolling” tremor in hands (70% of
Signs and symptoms cases), worse at rest, fades with action.
Rigidity: Stiff muscles—lead-pipe or cogwheel (with tremor) on exam.
Postural Instability: Late feature—falls, unsteady stance.
MDS Rule: Bradykinesia + ≥1 of tremor/rigidity = parkinsonism;
PD if supportive features present.
Levodopa (Gold Standard): Levodopa/Carbidopa (Sinemet)—
carbidopa prevents peripheral breakdown. Converted to
dopamine in brain—replaces what’s lost.
Parkinson's treatment
Dopamine Agonists: Pramipexole (0.5-4.5 mg/day), Ropinirole
(2-24 mg/day), Rotigotine (patch, 2-8 mg/day). Mimic dopamine at
receptors—less potent than levodopa.
Vascular dementia is a progressive cognitive impairment
caused by reduced or blocked blood supply to parts of the brain,
What is vascular dementia?
leading to neuronal damage or death. It's a broad term
encompassing dementia from strokes (large or small), chronic
hypoperfusion, or microvascular disease.
Correct and Confirmed Graded A+ Answers. Assured
Pass.
Terms in this set (187)
A sudden onset of severe confusion and disorientation that is
What is delirium?
usually caused by an underlying medical condition (UTI,
sepsis, etc)
What is mild neurocognitive A subtle decline in cognitive abilities that does not significantly
disorder (dementia)? interfere with daily life. 50% of individuals with MCD will
progress to Alzheimer's disease over 4 years
A significant decline in cognitive abilities that interferes with
What is major neurocognitive
disorder? daily activities and independence
What is the etiology of more prevalent in women, family history is common, patients
major neurocognitive with DM, smoking, HTN, CVA
disorder?
What are signs and symptoms of Short-term memory loss, word-finding difficulty, visuospatial
major neurocognitive disorder? dysfunction, and executive dysfunction
What is alzheimer's disease? caused by a buildup of proteins (amyloids) in the neocortex
memory loss, changes in behavior, difficulty completing tasks.
What are s/s of alzheimer's Depression, social withdrawal, and anxiety occur in early disease
disease?
stages and may represent a prodrome before cognitive
symptoms are apparent
Amyloid PET imaging confirms the presence of neuritic and
How to diagnose alzheimer's
disease? diffuse plaques throughout the neocortex
Slow cognitive decline, manage symptoms (cognitive, behavioral),
support caregivers—no disease-modifying cure exists yet.
Cholinesterase inhibitors (improve symptoms): Donepezil (5-10
Treatment for alzheimer's disease mg/day), Rivastigmine (6-12 mg/day oral, 9.5-13.3 mg patch),
Galantamine (16-24 mg/day). Boost acetylcholine (depleted in
AD) by inhibiting breakdown—helps memory, attention.
,NMDA receptor antagonist Drug: Memantine (10 mg BID
or 28 mg XR). Blocks glutamate excitotoxicity—protects
neurons, aids moderate-severe AD.
, Dopamine Neuron Loss: PD stems from degeneration of
What is parkinson's disease? dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta
(SNpc), a region of the midbrain. This reduces dopamine in
the basal ganglia (striatum), disrupting motor control
circuits.
Lewy Bodies: Intracellular aggregates of misfolded alpha-
Pathology of parkinson's synuclein protein are the hallmark. They spread in a
predictable pattern (Braak staging), starting in the brainstem
and progressing to the cortex.
PD is a clinical diagnosis—no single test confirms it. Based on
How to diagnose parkinson's history, exam, and response to therapy, per Movement
Disorder Society (MDS) criteria. Imaging and biomarkers aid
but aren’t definitive.
Cardinal Motor Symptoms (Core for Diagnosis):
Bradykinesia: Slowness of movement—must be present. Seen
as reduced arm swing, slow finger taps.
Resting Tremor: 4-6 Hz “pill-rolling” tremor in hands (70% of
Signs and symptoms cases), worse at rest, fades with action.
Rigidity: Stiff muscles—lead-pipe or cogwheel (with tremor) on exam.
Postural Instability: Late feature—falls, unsteady stance.
MDS Rule: Bradykinesia + ≥1 of tremor/rigidity = parkinsonism;
PD if supportive features present.
Levodopa (Gold Standard): Levodopa/Carbidopa (Sinemet)—
carbidopa prevents peripheral breakdown. Converted to
dopamine in brain—replaces what’s lost.
Parkinson's treatment
Dopamine Agonists: Pramipexole (0.5-4.5 mg/day), Ropinirole
(2-24 mg/day), Rotigotine (patch, 2-8 mg/day). Mimic dopamine at
receptors—less potent than levodopa.
Vascular dementia is a progressive cognitive impairment
caused by reduced or blocked blood supply to parts of the brain,
What is vascular dementia?
leading to neuronal damage or death. It's a broad term
encompassing dementia from strokes (large or small), chronic
hypoperfusion, or microvascular disease.
