Let's Brainstorm
Many antidepressant medications work by increasing levels of this brain chemical commonly linked to mood, sleep, and anxiety.
A) Serotonin
B) Dopamine
C) Norepinephrine
D) Melatonin
What is A) Serotonin?
Diabetes is the #1 cause of kidney failure. This lab test gives you a "3-month average" of blood sugar rather than just a one-day snapshot.
A) Fasting Glucose
B) Urine Protein
C) Hemoglobin A1C
What is C) Hemoglobin A1C?
When you finally finish a big project or eat your favorite dessert, your brain gives you that “feel-good” hit of pleasure and motivation. This neurotransmitter is primarily associated with your brain's reward sensation.
A) Dopamine
B) GABA
C) Acetylcholine
What is A) Dopamine?
This single dietary change has the strongest evidence for improving heart health.
A) Cutting out sugar
B) Eating more vegetables
C) Reducing saturated fat
D) Avoiding gluten
What is C) Reducing saturated fat?
This illness still causes the most preventable deaths worldwide each year, despite having a safe and effective vaccine.
A) Influenza
B) Measles
C) Tetanus
D) Polio
What is A) Influenza?
This preventive action has been shown to add the most years to life expectancy.
A) Cancer screening
B) Blood pressure treatment
C) Regular exercise
D) Quitting smoking
What is D) Quitting smoking?
Of the following scenarios, this is an example of projection which is used as a defense mechanism.
A) After you forget a meeting, you blame your coworker for always messing up deadlines
B) You get frustrated at traffic and honk repeatedly at other drivers
C) You refuse to believe that you feel anxious before a big presentation
What is A)?
If the kidneys aren't filtering well and fluid builds up, this is where a 60-year-old most likely to notice this swelling (edema) first.
A) The ankles and lower legs
B) The hands and fingers
C) Around the midsection
D) The face
What is A) The ankles and lower legs?
The heart and kidneys are a team. When the heart pumps poorly, the kidneys often respond by "hoarding" this mineral, leading to swelling.
A) Calcium
B) Sodium (Salt)
C) Iron
D) Magnesium
What is B) Sodium (Salt)?
This type of exercise has the strongest evidence for reducing depression.
A) Aerobic exercise like walking
B) Strength training only
C) Stretching only
What is A) Aerobic exercise like walking?
A new class of diabetes drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors (like Jardiance or Farxiga) is a game-changer. They are now used in non-diabetics because they protect these two organs.
A) Liver and Lungs
B) Heart and Kidneys
C) Brain and Stomach
D) Eyes and Pancreas
What is B) Heart and Kidneys?
Research shows that the single most important factor for aging well—protecting memory, mood, and longevity—is this.
A) Perfect genetics
B) Supplements and vitamins
C) Strong social connections
What is C) Strong social connections?
After someone loses a loved one, most mental health experts consider grief to be a normal response as long as it lasts roughly this long.
A) A few days
B) 2–4 weeks
C) Up to several months
D) More than a year
What is C) Up to several months?
Most people don’t feel kidney disease until it’s advanced. This is the most common early physical sign of protein leaking into the urine.
A) Bright red color
B) Foamy or bubbly urine
C) A strong ammonia smell
What is B) Foamy or bubbly urine?
Nephrologists care so much about blood pressure because the kidney's filters (nephrons) are essentially made of this.
A) Microscopic blood vessels
B) Hemoglobin
C) Solid muscle
D) Nerve fibers
What is A) Microscopic blood vessels?
This "hidden" salt source is often a bigger contributor to high blood pressure than the salt shaker.
A) Fresh fruit
B) Processed bread and deli meats
C) Nuts
D) Plain black coffee
What is B) Processed bread and deli meats?
A common concern for seniors, "Polypharmacy" means this.
A) Taking medications from multiple different pharmacies
B) Keeping medications altogether in a polythene bag
C) Using herbal supplements in addition to prescriptions
D) Taking 5 or more medications daily, which may increase side effect risks
What is D) Taking 5 or more medications daily?
This is a normal part of aging and usually NOT a sign of early dementia.
A) Forgetting how to use a familiar microwave
B) Forgetting which day it is but remembering it later
C) Getting lost in one’s own neighborhood
D) Forgetting the names of common objects (like "watch" or "pen")
What is B) Forgetting which day it is but remembering it later?
After an infuriating day at work, someone heads to the gym, runs five miles, and feels much better. Psychology would describe this coping strategy as this.
A) Displacement
B) Denial
C) Sublimation
What is C) Sublimation?
The "Silent Killer" refers to high blood pressure because it rarely has symptoms. For us at age 65, this is the modern clinical target for a "top number" (systolic).
A) Below 120
B) Below 130
C) Below 150
What is B) Below 130?
This hormone declines most sharply during menopause, leading to hot flashes and other classic symptoms.
A) Testosterone
B) Progesterone
C) Estrogen
D) Cortisol
E) Oxytocin
What is C) Estrogen?
According to current WHO guidelines, this is considered the maximum daily amount of alcohol associated with lower risk for most adults.
A) Women: up to 2 drinks / Men: up to 3 drinks
B) Women: up to 1 drink / Men: up to 2 drinks
C) Women: up to 2 drinks / Men: up to 4 drinks
D) Women: up to 3 drinks / Men: up to 5 drinks
What is B)?
The first antidepressant approved in the USA originated from this class of drugs.
A) Stimulants like Cocaine and Amphetamines
B) Marijuana related products
C) Medications used for Tuberculosis
What is C) Medications used for Tuberculosis?
After menopause, the risk of this condition increases most noticeably due to hormonal changes.
A) Breast cancer
B) Osteoporosis
C) Diabetes
D) Lung disease
What is B) Osteoporosis?
A person has brief episodes of intense fear, heart racing, and shortness of breath that peak within minutes. This pattern is most likely associated with this condition.
A) Panic disorder
B) Generalized anxiety disorder
C) Impending heart attack
What is A) Panic disorder?
This specific test acts as a "smoke detector" for kidney damage, often finding a problem years before the actual kidney function (GFR) drops.
A) Basic Metabolic Panel (Blood test)
B) Kidney Ultrasound
C) Urine Albumin (uACR)
What is C) Urine Albumin (uACR)?
The thyroid gland’s hormones primarily help the body regulate this.
A) Immune response
B) Metabolism and energy use
C) Blood clotting
D) Muscle contraction only
What is B) Metabolism and energy use?
This factor matters more for long-term health than body weight alone.
A) Your height
B) How often you exercise
C) Your cholesterol level
D) Your metabolism
What is B) How often you exercise?
Our kidneys filter 200 quarts of blood daily. This common over-the-counter pill can act like a "wrench in the works" for kidney blood flow.
A) Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
B) NSAIDs like Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) or Naproxen (Aleve)
C) Antacids (Tums)
What is B) NSAIDs?
This lifestyle factor is now considered one of the strongest ways to lower dementia risk over a lifetime.
A) Doing puzzles regularly
B) Avoiding alcohol entirely
C) Managing blood pressure
D) Taking memory supplements
What is C) Managing blood pressure?