Case study 4- dementia 1.4

Question 1

What is dementia?

Answer 1

A general term used to describe the inability to remember, think, make decisions that interfere with doing everyday activities

Question 2

What is donepezil used to treat?

Answer 2

mild to moderate dementia in alzheimers

Question 3

What class of drug is donepezil?

Answer 3

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

Question 4

True or false
Acetylcholine is an important neurotransmitter in areas of the brain involving memory?

Answer 4

True

Question 5

True or false
An increase in acetylcholine is associated with the increase severity of Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 5

false
decrease of ACh correlates with the severity of AD

Question 6

How does donepezil work? Mechanism of action

Answer 6

• Inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity

-Blocks the esterase-mediated metabolism of ach to choline and acetate

• This increases amount of ach in the synaptic cleft

-Increases availability of ach in the postsynaptic and presynaptic nicotinic and muscarinic ach receptors