Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias Flashcards
7 cards from real AAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias flashcards as text
A caregiver notices their loved one with Alzheimer's repeatedly asks the same question every few minutes. What is the most appropriate response strategy?
Answer: Answer calmly each time as if it is the first time
Answering patiently each time honors the person's experience, since they genuinely do not remember asking, and reduces anxiety.
Vascular dementia most commonly results from which underlying cause?
Answer: Reduced blood flow to the brain due to strokes or vessel disease
Vascular dementia occurs when strokes or small vessel disease damage brain tissue by reducing oxygen and nutrient delivery.
Which FDA-approved class of medication targets glutamate regulation to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease?
Answer: NMDA receptor antagonists
Memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, regulates glutamate activity to protect neurons and is approved for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's.
Which dementia type is often associated with Parkinson's disease and involves motor symptoms alongside cognitive decline?
Answer: Lewy body dementia
Lewy body dementia shares pathology with Parkinson's disease dementia and presents with both motor features (tremor, rigidity) and cognitive impairment.
Person-centered care in dementia emphasizes which core principle?
Answer: Recognizing the individual's history, preferences, and dignity
Person-centered care focuses on the unique needs, life history, and preferences of the individual rather than applying uniform dementia protocols.
Which area of the brain is typically affected first in Alzheimer's disease, explaining early memory loss symptoms?
Answer: Hippocampus
The hippocampus, critical for forming new memories, is among the first brain structures damaged in Alzheimer's disease.
What is 'mixed dementia'?
Answer: The simultaneous presence of two or more types of dementia pathology in one person
Mixed dementia occurs when a person has more than one type of dementia simultaneously, most commonly Alzheimer's combined with vascular dementia.