Practice Test Geeks(AAC) Alzheimer's Association Certification Practice Test
← All AAC Flashcard Decks

Pharmacological Interventions 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 Pharmacological Interventions flashcards as text

  1. Which cholinesterase inhibitor is approved for all stages of Alzheimer's disease, including severe?

    Answer: Donepezil

    Donepezil (Aricept) is the only cholinesterase inhibitor FDA-approved for mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's disease.

  2. A patient taking donepezil reports vivid nightmares. The best initial recommendation is to:

    Answer: Administer the dose in the morning instead of at night

    Switching donepezil from an evening to a morning dose often resolves vivid dreams, a known side effect, without stopping therapy.

  3. Memantine's mechanism of action is best described as:

    Answer: Blocking NMDA glutamate receptors to reduce excitotoxicity

    Memantine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that reduces glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, which contributes to neuronal damage in Alzheimer's.

  4. Which combination therapy is FDA-approved as a single capsule for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease?

    Answer: Donepezil + memantine

    Namzaric is the FDA-approved fixed-dose combination of donepezil and memantine for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease.

  5. Galantamine's dual mechanism of action includes acetylcholinesterase inhibition and:

    Answer: Nicotinic receptor allosteric modulation

    Galantamine uniquely allosterically modulates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in addition to inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.

  6. A patient with Alzheimer's and severe dysphagia cannot swallow pills. Which formulation allows transdermal delivery of a cholinesterase inhibitor?

    Answer: Rivastigmine transdermal patch

    Rivastigmine (Exelon Patch) is available as a transdermal patch, making it suitable for patients who cannot swallow oral medications.

  7. Before initiating lecanemab (Leqembi) therapy, which screening test is most critical due to a common serious adverse effect?

    Answer: MRI brain with ARIA protocol

    ARIA (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities) including edema and microhemorrhages is a major risk with anti-amyloid antibodies, so baseline MRI is mandatory.