1. Which of the following statements regarding the impact Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other dementias in the US is true?
A. AD constitutes approximately 70% of all dementia cases.
B. The prevalence of AD and other dementias is declining in the US.
C. The prevalence of AD and other dementias has remained stable in the US.
D. None of the above
2. What is the single greatest risk factor associated with the development of dementia?
A. First-degree relative with dementia
B. Age
C. Female sex
D. Head trauma
3. Which of the following is NOT a clinical criterion for AD?
A. Memory impairment
B. Gradual onset and progressive cognitive decline
C. Mood disturbances
D. Impairment in social or occupational functioning
4. Which of the following tests should be performed routinely as part of the patient assessment for dementia?
A. Laboratory assessments to rule out various causes of dementia like anemia
B. Genetic testing
C. Biomarker testing
D. Functional brain imaging
5. Which statement is true regarding the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE)?
A. The MMSE may also be used to assess for depression.
B. A MMSE score between 10 and 20 correlates with a state of total dependence.
C. A MMSE score between 20 and 26 correlates with mild functional dependence.
D. A MMSE score of less than 10 is rarely observed in clinical practice.
6. Which of the following statements regarding the treatment of AD is true?
A. Patients who receive treatment later in the course of the disease experience similar outcomes compared with patients who start treatment early.
B. FDA approved medications for AD are disease altering.
C. FDA-approved medications treat the symptoms of AD and are not disease altering.
D. None of the above
7. Which of the following statements about cholinesterase inhibitors is true?
A. Cholinesterase inhibitors are only indicated for mild to moderate AD.
B. Cholinesterase inhibitors may stabilize or slow cognitive decline.
C. Cholinesterase inhibitors have a short half-life and do not need to be discontinued prior to surgery.
D. Cholinesterase inhibitors are well tolerated, with few GI side effects.
8. Regarding the use of memantine, which of the following statements is true?
A. Memantine is indicated for mild to moderate AD.
B. An adjustment in the dosage of memantine should be considered for patients with recent declines in renal function.
C. Memantine should not be used in combination with cholinesterase inhibitors.
D. Memantine is associated with significant GI side effects.
9. When should pharmacologic treatment for AD be discontinued?
A. Pharmacologic treatment should be discontinued when the patient experiences side effects.
B. Pharmacologic treatment should be discontinued when the patients exhibits behavioral disturbances.
C. Currently there are no definitive recommendations on when pharmacologic treatment should be discontinued.
D. None of the above
10. Which of the following non pharmacologic strategies for managing patients with AD has NOT been shown to be beneficial?
A. A daily schedule for physical fitness such as walking, and swimming
B. Five small meals each day
C. Music therapy
D. Challenging, unfamiliar activities
11. What is true regarding behavioral issues often seen in AD patients?
A. Medical causes such as pain or infection should be investigated as a cause.
B. Routine tasks may precipitate behavioral issues.
C. Non-drug management is ineffective for behavioral issues.
D. There are generally no triggers to behavioral issues in AD patients.
12. Which of the following agents is being studied as a potential treatment option for AD?
A. Insulin
B. Angiotensin receptor blockers
C. Estrogen
D. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
13. Use of which of the following is associated with the lower risk of AD?
A. Caffeine
B. Vitamin D
C. Green tea
D. Calcium
14. Which statement is NOT true regarding caregiver burden associated with AD?
A. Caregivers on average spend 70 to 100 hours per week caring for AD patients
B. Caregivers report an impaired ability to work.
C. Caregivers on average spend 20 to 30 hours per week caring for AD patients.
D. Caregivers experience significant psychological burden.
15. Which of the following is a measurable benefit of caregiver support and education?
A. Increased hospitalization and doctors visits
B. Delayed nursing home placement
C. Improved health outcomes for caregivers
D. None of the above
Evaluation Questions
16. CASE: Mrs. G is a 68-year-old retiree who complains of losing her keys frequently and forgetting phone numbers. Twice she drove herself to the grocery store and was unable to remember how to get home, and she occasionally experiences impaired language ability. Her Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score is 22, and her husband reports that she has become increasingly agitated and anti-social. No other causes of cognitive deficits have been identified. This patient probably meets the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease.
A. True
B. False
17. Mrs. G is eventually diagnosed with moderate Alzheimer's disease. What treatment should she receive?
A. Monitoring only
B. A cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI)
C. An NMDA antagonist
D. Both B and C
18. All patients with cognitive impairment should receive pharmacologic therapy.
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Neutral
D. Disagree
E. Strongly Disagree
19. Which of the following agents decrease production of β-amyloid?
A. Estrogen
B. M1 muscarinic receptor agonists
C. Anti-oxidative agents
D. Anti-tau agents
