BCG Cognitive Decline & Dementia Care Flashcards

Delirium differs from dementia in that delirium typically:

Answer: Has an acute onset with fluctuating consciousness and an identifiable cause

Delirium is characterized by acute onset, fluctuating course, altered consciousness, and an identifiable precipitating cause, unlike the gradual irreversible decline of dementia.

Which of the following is a common reversible cause of delirium in hospitalized older adults, summarized by the mnemonic DELIRIUM?

Answer: Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infections are among the most common and treatable precipitating causes of delirium in hospitalized older adults.

The cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil (Aricept) is approved for which stage(s) of Alzheimer's disease?

Answer: Mild to severe stages

Donepezil is FDA-approved for all stages of Alzheimer's disease—mild, moderate, and severe—making it the most broadly approved cholinesterase inhibitor.

What is the primary role of the gerontological nurse when a patient with dementia refuses medications?

Answer: Investigate the reason for refusal, explore alternatives, and respect capacity-based decision-making

The nurse should assess for decisional capacity, explore reasons for refusal, consider alternative formulations, and uphold the patient's rights within ethical and legal frameworks.

Caregiver burden in families caring for individuals with dementia is most effectively reduced by:

Answer: Providing access to respite care, support groups, and psychoeducation

Respite care, support groups, and psychoeducation are evidence-based interventions that reduce caregiver burden, depression, and burnout.

Which type of dementia is characterized by early prominent changes in personality, social behavior, and executive function rather than memory loss?

Answer: Frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes, causing early personality changes, disinhibition, and executive dysfunction before significant memory impairment.