Introduction to Alzheimer’s Disease

Every question here, with the answer

1. The daughter of a client newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease asks whether the prescribed medication will cure her mother. Which response by the nurse is accurate?

   1. Yes, the medication reverses the brain changes if started early.
   2. The medication only works for people younger than 60.
   3. The medication is only used after the disease becomes severe.
   4. The medication may at best slow the loss of memory and thinking, but there is no known cure.

   Answer: The medication may at best slow the loss of memory and thinking, but there is no known cure.

   There is no known cure for AD, and drugs may at best slow the loss of memory and cognition. AD is irreversible, and the section gives no age or severity restriction of this kind.

2. A nurse is teaching a community group about factors that may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Which factors should the nurse include? Select all that apply.

   1. Mentally challenging activities such as reading
   2. Maintaining social interactions
   3. Adequate uninterrupted deep sleep
   4. Avoiding all dietary fat
   5. Routine aerobic exercise

   Answer: Mentally challenging activities such as reading, Maintaining social interactions, Adequate uninterrupted deep sleep, Routine aerobic exercise

   Aerobic exercise, deep sleep, social interaction and mentally challenging activities are listed as factors that may reduce risk. The section recommends a healthy balanced diet, not avoiding all fat.

3. The spouse of a client with Alzheimer's disease reports feeling exhausted from providing care at home. Which intervention best meets the goals of care for both of them?

   1. Recommend limiting the client's contact with visitors.
   2. Request a higher medication dose to reduce care needs.
   3. Suggest an adult daycare or respite center.
   4. Advise the spouse to keep the client at home alone during the day.

   Answer: Suggest an adult daycare or respite center.

   Maintaining socialization and supporting caregivers are the two major goals, and adult daycare and respite centers do both. Isolating the client works against socialization, and medication does not relieve caregiver burden in this way.

4. A client with early Alzheimer's disease repeats the same question minutes after it was answered. The nurse knows this short-term memory loss is linked to degeneration in which area?

   1. Brain stem
   2. Cerebellum
   3. Spinal cord
   4. Hippocampus

   Answer: Hippocampus

   Neuron destruction first occurs in the hippocampus, which plays an essential role in memory, causing short-term memory loss. The cerebellum, brain stem and spinal cord are not described as the first sites of degeneration.

5. A nurse is assessing a client with moderate Alzheimer's disease. Which findings are consistent with this stage? Select all that apply.

   1. Sleep disturbances
   2. Difficulty with feeding and bathing
   3. Difficulty recognizing family and friends
   4. Wandering
   5. Complete loss of speech

   Answer: Sleep disturbances, Difficulty with feeding and bathing, Difficulty recognizing family and friends, Wandering

   Wandering, sleep disturbances, difficulty with ADLs and trouble recognizing family and friends are moderate manifestations. Loss of speech is listed as a late manifestation.

6. A family member asks how the health care provider diagnosed Alzheimer's disease without a definitive test. Which explanation by the nurse is correct?

   1. The diagnosis is made from a genetic test for APOE-e4.
   2. The diagnosis is based on symptoms and ruling out other causes.
   3. A blood test confirms the disease.
   4. A single brain scan confirms the disease.

   Answer: The diagnosis is based on symptoms and ruling out other causes.

   AD cannot be definitively diagnosed without autopsy, so the diagnosis is based on symptoms and exclusion of other pathology. APOE-e4 only raises risk, and no blood test or scan is described as confirming AD.