Adult-Gerontology CNS Test Advanced Pathophysiology

Question 1

Which pathophysiological mechanism primarily underlies type 2 diabetes mellitus in older adults?

Accepted Answer

Insulin resistance combined with progressive beta-cell dysfunction

Answer

Autoimmune destruction of beta cells

Answer

Absolute insulin deficiency

Answer

Glucagon deficiency

Question 2

Atrial fibrillation increases stroke risk primarily by causing:

Accepted Answer

Cardioembolism from stasis-induced thrombus formation

Answer

Coronary artery spasm

Answer

Hypertensive encephalopathy

Answer

Cerebral vasospasm

Question 3

In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the Frank-Starling mechanism initially compensates by:

Accepted Answer

Increasing stroke volume in response to elevated end-diastolic volume

Answer

Decreasing preload to reduce wall stress

Answer

Reducing afterload via vasodilation

Answer

Stimulating cardiac hypertrophy immediately

Question 4

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in older adults most commonly progresses from:

Accepted Answer

Diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive nephrosclerosis

Answer

Glomerulonephritis alone

Answer

Obstructive uropathy

Answer

Polycystic kidney disease

Question 5

The hallmark pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease is:

Accepted Answer

Extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles

Answer

Lewy body inclusions in cortical neurons

Answer

Demyelination of white matter tracts

Answer

Dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra

Question 6

COPD is primarily characterized by which pathophysiological change?

Accepted Answer

Irreversible airflow limitation due to small airway disease and parenchymal destruction

Answer

Reversible airway hyperresponsiveness

Answer

Interstitial fibrosis with restrictive physiology

Answer

Upper airway obstruction from mucosal edema