AMC Clinical Geriatric Assessment

Question 1

Which assessment tool is most commonly used to measure functional independence across activities of daily living in elderly patients?

Accepted Answer

Barthel Index

Answer

The Barthel Index assesses functional independence across 10 activities of daily living including feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, and mobility, making it the standard functional assessment tool in geriatric medicine.

Question 2

An 82-year-old woman presents after her second fall this month. Which single intervention has the strongest evidence for reducing fall risk in community-dwelling older adults?

Accepted Answer

Medication review with withdrawal of high-risk medications

Answer

Medication review with withdrawal of psychotropic and other high-risk medications has the strongest evidence base for fall prevention in community-dwelling older adults, as these drugs directly impair balance and coordination.

Question 3

On the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), which score range indicates moderate dementia?

Accepted Answer

10–17

Answer

MMSE scores of 10–17 indicate moderate dementia, while 18–23 indicates mild, 24–30 is normal or very mild impairment, and below 10 indicates severe dementia.

Question 4

A 78-year-old man with known dementia becomes acutely confused and agitated in hospital. Which feature most distinguishes delirium from worsening of his underlying dementia?

Accepted Answer

Acute onset with a fluctuating course

Answer

The cardinal feature distinguishing delirium from dementia is its acute onset and fluctuating course over hours to days, whereas dementia follows a gradual, progressive decline over months to years.

Question 5

According to the Fried Frailty Phenotype, which combination of criteria defines frailty?

Accepted Answer

Three or more of: unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, slow gait speed, and grip weakness

Answer

The Fried Frailty Phenotype defines frailty as meeting 3 or more of 5 specific criteria: unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, low physical activity, slow gait speed, and grip weakness.

AMC Clinical Practice Test

AMC Clinical Practice Test

AMC Clinical Geriatric Assessment