Deck 7: Neurocognitive Disorders

Question 1

Dr. Khan studies the genetics of sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following is she MOST interested in?

A) the presenilin PS1 gene
B) the presenilin PS2 gene
C) the amyloid precursor protein gene
D) the apolipoprotein gene

Answer 1

the apolipoprotein gene

Question 2

Gareth donated his brain to science. After Gareth died, an examination of his brain revealed amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. What can scientists conclude from these observations of Gareth's brain?

A) Gareth definitely had sporadic Alzheimer's disease
B) Gareth definitely had early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease
C) Gareth definitely did NOT have any form of Alzheimer's disease
D) Gareth may or may not have had Alzheimer's disease

Answer 2

Gareth may or may not have had Alzheimer's disease

Question 3

What substance is the primary component of neurofibrillary tangles?

A) beta-secretase
B) amyloid precursor protein
C) tau protein
D) acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Answer 3

tau protein

Question 4

Donna is 80 years old, and recent tests have showed declines in memory and executive functioning. In addition, Donna's children recently convinced her to move from her apartment to an assisted living facility because they didn't feel Donna could care for herself anymore. Donna's symptoms are MOST consistent with which DSM-5 disorder?

A) major dementia
B) Huntington's chorea
C) major neurocognitive disorder
D) early-onset Alzheimer's disease

Question 5

Which of the following was required for a diagnosis of dementia in earlier versions of the DSM, but is NOT a requirement for a diagnosis of neurocognitive disorder in the DSM-5?

A) disinhibition
B) language difficulties
C) attentional difficulties
D) memory problems

Question 6

Which of the following is a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease described in the text?

A) hippocampal atrophy
B) prefrontal lobe atrophy
C) cerebellar atrophy
D) parietal atrophy

Question 7

Frank is a 71-year-old widower who lives on his own without the aid of home care. By all accounts, Frank is independent. Frank didn't realize that he had problem with his memory until he was given a simple memory test by his physician, who found a decline compared to how Frank scored two years earlier. Frank's symptoms are MOST consistent with which DSM-5 disorder?

A) mild dementia
B) mild neurocognitive disorder
C) early-onset Alzheimer's disease
D) cognitive impairment

Question 8

In a healthy brain, beta-amyloids are prevented from forming on the outside of neurons by which of the following?

A) alpha-secretase
B) beta-secretase
C) gamma-secretase
D) delta-secretase

Question 9

George had a spinal tap to test for biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. What substances were George's doctors MOST likely looking for in George's cerebrospinal fluid?

A) acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and tau
B) tau and amyloid protein
C) amyloid protein and beta-secretase
D) beta-secretase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Question 10

Which term did the term neurocognitive disorder replace in the DSM-5?

A) delirium
B) dementia
C) Alzheimer's disease
D) amnesia

Question 11

How many areas of cognitive functioning must be impaired for a diagnosis of neurocognitive disorder in the DSM-5?

A) one
B) two
C) three
D) four

Question 12

What does current research suggest is the BEST predictor of Alzheimer's disease progression?

A) the amount of beta-secretase in the brain
B) the amount of tau in the brain
C) the amount of atrophy in the hippocampus
D) the amount of atrophy in the frontal lobes

Question 13

Which of the following appear on the outside of neurons when a person has Alzheimer's disease?

A) amyloid plaques
B) neurofibrillary tangles
C) white matter lesions
D) acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Question 14

Which of the following symptoms is MOST often reported in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease?

A) inappropriate social behaviour
B) getting lost while driving
C) difficulty getting dressed
D) difficulty eating

Question 15

Which of the following interacts with amyloid precursor protein to produce amyloid plaques?

A) alpha-secretase
B) beta-secretase
C) gamma-secretase
D) delta-secretase

Question 16

What is the MOST common form of dementia?

A) alcohol-related dementia
B) fronto-temporal neurocognitive disorder
C) Alzheimer's disease
D) vascular dementia

Question 17

Sandra has one copy of the ApoE2 gene and one copy of the ApoE3 gene. What does this means for Sandra?

A) she has a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
B) she will definitely develop Alzheimer's disease
C) she has an increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease
D) she will definitely NOT develop Alzheimer's disease

Question 18

Which of the following occur inside of neurons when a person has Alzheimer's disease?

A) amyloid plaques
B) acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
C) beta-secretase
D) neurofibrillary tangles

Question 19

A person must develop Alzheimer's disease after what age to be diagnosed with sporadic Alzheimer's disease?

A) 55
B) 60
C) 65
D) 70

Question 20

What number of genes are associated with early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease, by which a person with a mutation in any one of them will almost certainly develop Alzheimer's disease?

A) two
B) three
C) four
D) five

Question 21

Which type of dementia is associated with white matter lesions?

A) Alzheimer's disease
B) vascular dementia
C) fronto-temporal neurocognitive disorder
D) alcohol-related dementia

Question 22

What are the two most common informal caregiving tasks?

A) meal preparation and managing finances
B) managing finances and coordinating appointments
C) coordinating appointments and transportation
D) transportation and meal preparation

Question 23

Which of the following has shown promise as an effective way of reducing agitation in people with dementia?

A) aromatherapy
B) light therapy
C) person-centred care
D) benzodiazepines

Question 24

Which of the following has been found to have a positive effect on mild cognitive impairment?

A) acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
B) vitamin E
C) NSAIDs
D) memory training

Question 25

Mary and John both have had Alzheimer's disease for the same length of time. Which of the following MOST likely describes Mary?

A) Mary is likely to be more aggressive than John.
B) Mary is likely to have more comorbid conditions than John.
C) Mary is likely to die sooner than John.
D) Mary is likely to have greater disability than John.

Question 26

For every 100 older adults that receive informal care, approximately how many live in the same household as their caregiver?

A) 81
B) 64
C) 42
D) 14

Question 27

Which element has been found at higher levels in people with Alzheimer's disease than in people without Alzheimer's disease?

A) manganese
B) aluminum
C) phosphorus
D) lead

Question 28

Which of the following are the MOST common behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)?

A) psychosis and disinhibition
B) disinhibition and agitation
C) agitation and aggression
D) aggression and psychosis

Question 29

How is gender related to Alzheimer's disease?

A) 2/3 of people with Alzheimer's disease are men
B) 2/3 of people with Alzheimer's disease are women
C) ¾ of people with Alzheimer's disease are women
D) ¾ of people with Alzheimer's disease are men

Question 30

Dr. Eto performed hip surgery on 100 older adults last year. Approximately how many of Dr. Eto's patients will have developed delirium after their surgery?

A) 10
B) 25
C) 50
D) 75

Question 31

Marcelle has been told he is at increased risk for developing sporadic Alzheimer's disease compared to most people, although it is also possible that he won't develop the disease at all. Which of the following gene combinations does Marcelle MOST likely have?

A) ApoE2; ApoE2
B) ApoE2; ApoE3
C) ApoE3; ApoE3
D) ApoE4; ApoE4

Question 32

Which of the following ailments is MOST likely to contribute to an older person's likelihood of committing a crime and becoming incarcerated?

A) macular degeneration
B) early dementia
C) heart disease
D) anxiety

Question 33

Leonard is 52 years old and has been incarcerated in Canada for 15 years. Leonard's physiology is MOST likely to resemble that of a non-incarcerated person who is what age?

A) 53 years old
B) 45 years old
C) 67 years old
D) 72 years old

Question 34

Fatima has vascular dementia, which was MOST likely caused by which of the following?

A) small vessel disease
B) a cerebral vascular accident
C) amyloid plaques
D) neurofibrillary tangles

Question 35

Dino is 77 years old and has begun to have complex hallucinations. Recently Dino was trying to escape from a hallucination when he fell and injured his hip. While in hospital a neuropsychologist MOST likely diagnosed Dino with which of the following?

A) Alzheimer's disease
B) neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies
C) fronto-temporal neurocognitive disorder
D) alcohol-related dementia

Question 36

Which of the following do some researchers claim is an early symptom of Alzheimer's disease?

A) depression
B) anxiety
C) schizophrenia
D) mania

Question 37

Ellie is 78 years old and her behaviour has changed dramatically over the last year. Although Ellie used to be friendly with other people who lived in her apartment complex, recently she has begun to shout and swear at people from her balcony. Ellie's behaviour is MOST consistent with which of the following?

A) fronto-temporal neurocognitive disorder, behavioural type
B) fronto-temporal neurocognitive disorder, language type
C) alcohol-related dementia
D) neuro-cognitive disorder with Lewy bodies

Question 38

Which of the following disorders can be caused by medication?

A) mild cognitive impairment
B) Alzheimer's disease
C) vascular dementia
D) fronto-temporal neurocognitive disorder

Question 39

Which of the following mental health issues is MORE common among informal caregivers than among people who do not provide informal care?

A) anxiety and depression
B) mania
C) substance use disorder
D) obsessive compulsive disorder

Question 40

Lisa provides care for her mother Jean, who has Alzheimer's disease and lives with Lisa. Twice a week a paid caregiver comes to Lisa's house and cares for Jean. Which of the following describes what Lisa is receiving?

A) informal care
B) respite care
C) compassionate release
D) reminiscent therapy

Question 41

Compare and contrast the causes of early-onset and sporadic Alzheimer's disease

Question 42

Define informal care and describe features of a typical caregiver and a typical care recipient and the types of informal care tasks that are most often provided. Describe at least two major problems frequently experienced by informal caregivers and identify one way to reduce the impact of these problems.

Question 43

Describe delirium and explain why it is important for clinicians to differentiate between delirium and dementia.

Question 44

Describe three biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and explain why using biomarkers to diagnose is controversial.

Question 45

Describe the changes in brain and behaviour as Alzheimer's disease progresses in an individual.