Exam 13: Aging and Neurocognitive Disorders

Although not necessarily the recommended first line medication for this problem, the class of drugs most frequently prescribed to treat anxiety in older adults is

Alcohol abuse at any age is not simply defined by the number of drinks consumed each day but also by the

In contrast to younger adults, substance abuse in older adults may only be recognized when they

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommends that adults aged 65 and over have _______________.

Treatment of depression in older adults should always begin with

As compared to schizophrenia more generally, late-onset schizophrenia

____________ is the MOST commonly abused substance among older adults.

When given a choice, older adults often prefer ____________ for the treatment of their anxiety symptoms.

Helen is a 72-year old widow who immigrated to America from Poland at the age of 11. About ten years ago, even though she was otherwise healthy, her family began to notice small slips in her memory, which included forgetting people's names and dates as well as repeating herself numerous times during the course of a conversation. Gradually, these slips worsened to the point that Helen would go out for a walk and find herself across town without having any idea how she got there or how to get back home. Worried for her safety, her family placed her in a nursing home three years ago. Since then, Helen's cognitive decline has only worsened. She does not recognize her family and she has lost the ability to speak in English. Helen now relies completely on others for self-care. Given this information, Helen would most likely be diagnosed with

Herman is an 82-year-old Hispanic man who enjoys volunteering at his church, dancing with his wife of 59 years, and gardening. Six weeks ago, Herman suffered a major stroke. Physically, it left him partially paralyzed on his left side. Mentally, it resulted in severe memory impairments and his speech is severely garbled to the point that others cannot understand him. He has not shown any improvement in his symptoms despite weeks of therapy. Given this information, Herman would most likely be diagnosed with

____________ occurs when the full syndrome of dementia (now known as major neurocognitive disorder) appears to be present but resolves after appropriate treatment for depression.

Very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis develops after the age of 65 and

Although there are many biological and environmental causes for delirium, the two primary causes are

Reasons why older adults do not seek mental health treatment include

Psychological symptoms and disorders are a normal part of aging.

In the general population of older adults, prevalence rates for depressive disorders are between

Americans over the age of 65 are twice as likely to commit suicide as are younger adults.

____________ is an alteration in consciousness that typically occurs in the context of a medical illness or after ingesting a substance.

Between now and the year 2020, the number of older adults with substance abuse disorder is expected to

In contrast to delirium, the cognitive difficulties associated with neurocognitive disorder