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

Type 2 diabetes in older adults is driven by insulin resistance in peripheral tissues combined with progressive beta-cell failure to compensate.

Question 2

Atrial fibrillation increases stroke risk primarily by causing:

Accepted Answer

Cardioembolism from stasis-induced thrombus formation

Answer

Atrial fibrillation leads to blood stasis in the left atrial appendage, promoting thrombus formation that can embolize to the cerebral vasculature.

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

The Frank-Starling mechanism compensates for reduced contractility by increasing stroke volume when the ventricle is stretched by a greater end-diastolic volume.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive nephrosclerosis

Answer

Diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive nephrosclerosis are the two leading causes of CKD progression in the US adult population.

Question 5

The hallmark pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease is:

Accepted Answer

Extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles

Answer

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by extracellular beta-amyloid plaques and intracellular tau-protein neurofibrillary tangles causing neuronal death.

Adult-Gerontology CNS Test Practice Test

Adult-Gerontology CNS Test Practice Test

Adult-Gerontology CNS Test Advanced Pathophysiology