Alzheimer's Flashcards
A nurse is providing teaching to the partner of a client who has Alzheimer’s disease and has a new prescription for donepezil. Which of the following statements by the partner indicates the teaching is effective?
A. “This medication should increase my husband’s appetite.”
B. “This medication should help my husband sleep better.”
C. “This medication should help my husband’s daily function.”
D. “This medication should increase my husband’s energy level.”
C. CORRECT: Donepezil helps slow the progression of AD and can help improve behavior and daily functions.
A nurse working in a long-term care facility is planning care for a client who has moderate Alzheimer’s (mild or moderate stage). Which of the following interventions should be included in the plan of care?
A. Use a gait belt for ambulation.
B. Thicken all liquids.
C. Provide protective undergarments.
D. Reorient the client to self and current events
D. CORRECT: A client who has moderate Alzheimer’s (middle or moderate stage) can require reorientation to self and current events as cognitive function declines.
A nurse is making a home visit to a client who has AD. The client’s partner states that the client is often disoriented to time and place, is unsteady, and has a history of wandering. Which of the following safety measures should the nurse review with the partner? (Select all that apply.)
A. Remove floor rugs.
B. Have door locks that can be easily opened.
C. Provide increased lighting in stairwells.
D. Install handrails in the bathroom.
E. Place the mattress on the floor
A. CORRECT: Removing floor rugs can decrease the risk of falling.
C. CORRECT: Good lighting can decrease the risk for falling in dark areas, such as stairways.
D. CORRECT: Installing handrails in the bathroom can be useful for the client to hold on to when his gait is unsteady.
E. CORRECT: By placing the client’s mattress on the floor, the risk of falling or tripping is decreased.
A nurse is caring for a client who has AD and falls frequently. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first to keep the client safe?
A. Keep the call light near the client.
B. Place the client in a room close to the nurses’ station.
C. Encourage the client to ask for assistance.
D. Remind the client to walk with someone for support.
B. CORRECT: Using the safety and risk reduction priority-setting framework, placing the client in close proximity to the nurses’ station for close observation is the first action the nurse should take.
A nurse is caring for a client who has Alzheimer’s disease. A family member of the client asks the nurse about risk factors for the disease. Which of the following should be included in the nurse’s response? (Select all that apply.)
A. Exposure to metal waste products
B. Long-term estrogen therapy
C. Sustained use of vitamin E
D. Previous head injury
E. History of herpes infection
A. CORRECT: Exposure to metal and toxic waste is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
D. CORRECT: A previous head injury is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
E. CORRECT: A history of herpes infection is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Criteria for Alzheimer’s as a major cognitive disorder?
Evidence of genetic mutation and/or family history AND all of the following:
- Evidence of memory & learning decline, and at least one other cognitive domain
- Gradual, but steady decline in cognition without extended plateaus
- No evidence of mixed etiology
Frequently used substances that cause dementia?
Alcohol, Inhalants, Sedatives, Hypnotics, Amphetamines, & Cocaine
Medications for Alzheimer’s Disease?
Mild to Moderate:
Cholinesterase inhibitor (Donepezil)
Moderate to Severe:
Methyl-D-Aspartate Antagonist (Memantine)
An 81-year-old client recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease has become forgetful and has been experiencing short-term memory loss. Which of the following effects of Alzheimer’s is an indication of the next stage of the disease?
A) No impairment
B) Long-term memory loss
C) Uncontrolled bowels
D) Lack of awareness of surroundings
B) Long-term memory loss
There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease. It is necessary to know the first four stages. The first stage is no impairment. The second stage is forgetfulness and short-term memory loss. The third stage is long-term memory loss. The fourth stage is bedridden accompanied by uncontrolled bowels and urine.
This answer is correct because Alzheimer’s clients experience long-term memory loss after short term memory loss. Long-term memory loss is the third stage of Alzheimer’s disease. There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The first stage is no impairment. The second stage is forgetfulness and short-term memory loss.
Which of the following are signs/symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease? Select all that apply.
A) Memory loss
B) Confusion
C) Agitation
D) Inability to perform self-care
E) Personality changes
ALL
The signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may include memory loss, confusion, agitation, inability to perform self-care, personality changes, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and wandering. As the disease progresses, safety becomes a major concern for the client. There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The first stage is no impairment. The second stage is forgetfulness and short-term memory loss. The third stage is long term memory loss. The fourth stage is bedridden accompanied by uncontrolled bowels and urine. The fifth stage is lack of orientation of time, place, or date. The sixth stage is lack of awareness of surroundings or activities. Finally, the seventh stage is significant behavior and personality change, and loss of speech and ability to converse. Complications of Alzheimer’s is an infection in the lungs due to pneumonia, resulting in death.
A 75-year-old man is accompanied by his son who states that his father has been forgetful, confused, and aggressive over the past few months. The son says that his father has never had a history of these symptoms and has always been “sharp as a tack.” Which of the following neurotransmitters are decreased as a result of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease?
A) Dopamine
B) Epinephrine
C) Acetylcholine
D) Norepinephrine
C) Acetylcholine
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that creates connections between various parts of the brain. Alzheimer’s clients have a decrease in acetylcholine as a result of plaques in neural-synapses of the brain disrupting brain signaling.
This answer is correct because Alzheimer’s clients have a decrease in acetylcholine as a result of plaques in neural-synapses of the brain disrupting brain signaling. Alzheimer’s disease is associated with a decrease in acetylcholine as a result of basal nucleus degeneration. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that creates connections between various parts of the brain.
The pathophysiology behind the structural changes within the brain of a client with Alzheimer’s disease includes:
A) Deposition of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
B) Atrophy of basal ganglia
C) Demyelination of the central and peripheral nervous system
D) Sulci that becomes filled with fluid giving the brain a flattened appearance
A) Deposition of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are structures that cause structural changes within the brains of clients with Alzheimer disease. Amyloid plaques consist of insoluble clumps in the spaces between nerve cells within brain tissue. Neurofibrillary tangles involve the twisting of tau protein threads of nerve cells in the brain.
This answer is correct because amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are the key diagnostic markers for Alzheimer disease.
Which of the following are risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease? Select all that apply.
A) Advancing age
B) Family history/genetics
C) Alcohol and smoking usage
D) Cardiovascular disease
E) Asthma
A) Advancing age
B) Family history/genetics
C) Alcohol and smoking usage
D) Cardiovascular disease
The risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease may include advancing age, family history or genetics, alcohol and smoking usage, and cardiovascular disease. Prevention is key for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Advancing age is the highest risk factor. Aging does not cause Alzheimer’s but the risk increases over 65-years of age tremendously. Clients should stop smoking. Cigarette smoke increases inflammation as well as oxidative stress, both linked with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. It also increases the possibility of vascular problems such as strokes or brain bleeds. If a close family member has been diagnosed with the disease, the relative risk increases at least 30%. Alcohol should be limited or abstained from usage because of its effect on short- and long-term memory. The client should exercise at least 3 days a week performing moderate-intensity exercise to prevent cardiovascular disease. A sedentary lifestyle is associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Asthma is not a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
