Multiple Choice
What is the key distinguishing feature of delirium?
a) Progressive memory loss
b) Sudden onset with fluctuating symptoms
c) Gradual decline in cognitive function
d) Irreversible cognitive impairment
Answer: b) Sudden onset with fluctuating symptoms
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute onset and fluctuating course, often reversible with treatment.
What is the primary risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease?
a) High cholesterol
b) Age
c) Low physical activity
d) High blood pressure
Answer: b) Age
Rationale: Increasing age is the strongest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Which of the following is a primary symptom of Alzheimer’s disease?
a) Tremors
b) Progressive memory loss
c) Muscle rigidity
d) Hallucinations
Answer: b) Progressive memory loss
Rationale: Memory loss is a hallmark symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, which worsens over time.
True/False Questions
Alzheimer’s disease is reversible with early treatment.
Answer: False
Rationale: Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and irreversible condition.
Dementia is a normal part of aging.
Answer: False
Rationale: While cognitive decline can occur with aging, dementia is a pathological condition.
Which of the following is the most common cause of dementia?
a) Parkinson’s disease
b) Alzheimer’s disease
c) Traumatic brain injury
d) Huntington’s disease
Answer: b) Alzheimer’s disease
Rationale: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Which neurotransmitter is primarily affected in Alzheimer’s disease?
a) Dopamine
b) Acetylcholine
c) Serotonin
d) GABA
Answer: b) Acetylcholine
Rationale: Alzheimer’s disease is associated with a decrease in acetylcholine levels, affecting memory and learning.
What is the main pathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease?
a) Neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques
b) Lewy bodies
c) Increased dopamine production
d) Myelin sheath destruction
Answer: a) Neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques
Rationale: These structures accumulate in the brain, leading to neuron damage and cognitive decline.
Delirium and dementia are the same condition.
Answer: False
Rationale: Delirium has a sudden onset and is reversible, while dementia is a gradual, irreversible decline in cognitive function.
Parkinson’s disease dementia can develop in patients with long-standing Parkinson’s disease.
Answer: True
Rationale: Cognitive decline can occur in later stages of Parkinson’s disease, leading to Parkinson’s disease dementia.
A patient with Lewy Body Dementia is most likely to experience which of the following symptoms?
a) Fluctuating cognition and visual hallucinations
b) Sudden memory loss
c) Hypertension-related strokes
d) Chorea and personality changes
Answer: a) Fluctuating cognition and visual hallucinations
Rationale: Lewy Body Dementia presents with fluctuations in cognition, visual hallucinations, and Parkinson-like symptoms.
Which symptom is an early sign of dementia?
a) Severe motor impairment
b) Loss of bowel control
c) Difficulty finding words
d) Complete memory loss
Answer: c) Difficulty finding words
Rationale: Word-finding difficulties are a common early symptom of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease.
What is a distinguishing feature of Lewy Body Dementia?
a) Stepwise progression of symptoms
b) Early motor impairment
c) Visual hallucinations
d) Sudden onset with full recovery
Answer: c) Visual hallucinations
Rationale: Lewy Body Dementia is characterized by recurrent visual hallucinations and fluctuating cognition.
Frontotemporal dementia is strongly associated with personality and behavioral changes.
Answer: True
Rationale: Frontotemporal dementia affects the frontal and temporal lobes, leading to personality and behavior changes.
Antipsychotic medications are the first-line treatment for Lewy Body Dementia.
Answer: False
Rationale: Patients with Lewy Body Dementia are highly sensitive to antipsychotics and may experience severe side effects.
Which diet has been shown to slow the progression of neurocognitive disorders?
a) High-protein diet
b) Ketogenic diet
c) MIND diet
d) Gluten-free diet
Answer: c) MIND diet
Rationale: The MIND diet, a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, has been shown to delay cognitive decline.
What is a hallmark pathological feature of Lewy Body Dementia?
a) Amyloid plaques
b) Lewy bodies in the brain
c) Enlarged ventricles
d) Neurofibrillary tangles
Answer: b) Lewy bodies in the brain
Rationale: Lewy bodies, abnormal protein deposits, are a key feature of Lewy Body Dementia.
Which type of dementia is associated with behavioral and personality changes?
a) Alzheimer’s disease
b) Vascular dementia
c) Frontotemporal dementia
d) Parkinson’s disease dementia
Answer: c) Frontotemporal dementia
Rationale: This form of dementia primarily affects personality, behavior, and language.
NMDA receptor antagonists like Memantine are used in treating moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease
Answer: True
Rationale: Memantine helps regulate glutamate to protect brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease progresses at the same rate in all patients.
Answer: False
Rationale: The progression of Alzheimer’s varies between individuals.
What is a key feature of vascular dementia?
a) Amyloid plaque accumulation
b) Stepwise progression of symptoms
c) Gradual decline over years
d) Increased dopamine levels
Answer: b) Stepwise progression of symptoms Rationale: Vascular dementia often follows a stepwise decline due to multiple small strokes affecting brain function.
Which of the following is NOT a typical feature of vascular dementia?
a) Stepwise progression
b) Hypertension-related damage
c) Fluctuating cognition
d) Amyloid plaques
Answer: d) Amyloid plaques
Rationale: Amyloid plaques are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, not vascular dementia.
What is the most significant modifiable risk factor for vascular dementia?
a) Age
b) Hypertension
c) Family history
d) Gender
Answer: b) Hypertension
Rationale: Managing blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and vascular dementia.
The primary risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease is age.
Answer: True
Rationale: Increasing age is the strongest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.
Answer: True
Rationale: Vascular dementia results from cerebrovascular damage, often due to strokes