Adult-Gerontology CNS Test Neurological and Cognitive Disorders 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of dementia is characterized by fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations, and spontaneous Parkinsonism?
- Alzheimer's disease
- Lewy body dementia (Correct answer)
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Vascular dementia
Correct answer: Lewy body dementia
Lewy body dementia presents with the classic triad of fluctuating cognition, recurrent visual hallucinations, and spontaneous Parkinsonism.
Question 2: Which cholinesterase inhibitor is FDA-approved for mild, moderate, and severe stages of Alzheimer's disease?
- Memantine
- Donepezil (Correct answer)
- Rivastigmine patch
- Galantamine
Correct answer: Donepezil
Donepezil (Aricept) is the only cholinesterase inhibitor FDA-approved for mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's disease.
Question 3: What is the hallmark pathological finding of Alzheimer's disease on post-mortem examination?
- Lewy bodies
- Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (Correct answer)
- Lacunar infarcts
- TDP-43 inclusions
Correct answer: Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
Alzheimer's disease is defined pathologically by extracellular amyloid-beta plaques and intracellular tau neurofibrillary tangles.
Question 4: An 80-year-old with Parkinson's disease develops sudden-onset confusion. Which medication complication should be suspected first?
- Embolic stroke
- Dopaminergic medication side effect (Correct answer)
- New infection
- Sleep deprivation
Correct answer: Dopaminergic medication side effect
Dopaminergic medications like levodopa and dopamine agonists commonly cause confusion, hallucinations, and psychosis in Parkinson's patients.
Question 5: Which behavioral symptom of dementia should be managed with non-pharmacological interventions as the first-line approach?
- Acute seizures
- Agitation and wandering (Correct answer)
- Status epilepticus
- Aspiration pneumonia
Correct answer: Agitation and wandering
Non-pharmacological approaches such as structured activities, redirection, and environmental modifications are first-line for dementia-related agitation.
Question 6: Which stroke syndrome classically presents with sudden onset of severe headache described as the worst headache of one's life?
- Ischemic stroke
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage (Correct answer)
- Transient ischemic attack
- Subdural hematoma
Correct answer: Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage classically presents with a sudden, severe thunderclap headache, often described as the worst headache ever experienced.
Adult-Gerontology CNS Test Neurological and Cognitive Disorders 1
Which type of dementia is characterized by fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations, and spontaneous Parkinsonism?