WGU: D027: Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations

What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - answer-- Brain shrinks dramatically; nerve cell death and tissue loss - Cardinal signs: plaques (abnormal clusters of protein fragments) and tangles (twisted strands of another protein) How is Alzheimer's treated? - answer-- There is no cure, but there are pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments - Cholinesterase inhibitors - Memantine (namenda) What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? - answer-- To treat symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgment, and other processes - Helps delay or slow the worsening of symptoms What does cholinesterase inhibitors do? - answer-- Prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that is important for learning and memory - Supports communication among nerve cells by keeping the acetylcholine high What are some commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors? - answer-- Donepezil (aricept) - Galantamine (razadyne) - Rivastigmine (exeleon) Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's? - answer-- Donepezil (aricept) Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's? - answer-- Galantamine (razadyne) - Rivastigmine (exeleon) Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's and Parkinson's? - answer-- Rivastigmine (exeleon) What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's? - answer-- Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept) What is memantine (namenda) used for? - answer-- Prescribed to improve memory, attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks - Can be used alone or with other Alzheimer's disease treatments How does memantine (namenda) work? - answer-- Regulates the activity of glutamate, a chemical involved in information processing, storage, and retrieval - Improves mental functioning and ability to perform daily activities for some people What is the difference in MOA between cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine (namenda)? - answer-- Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas memantine (namenda) regulates the activity of glutamate What is ataxia? - answer-- Also known as cerebellum attacks - Degenerative disease of the nervous system - Many symptoms mimic those of being drunk (i.e. slurred speech, stumbling, falling, and incoordination) What causes the symptoms of ataxia? - answer-- The damage caused to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for coordinating movements - Can also be caused by damage to part of the spinal cord and nerves What is the treatment for ataxia? - answer-- No treatment - In some cases, treating the underlying causes (i.e. stopping medications that cause ataxia) - In other cases, it is a result from chicken pox or other viral infections (likely to resolve on its own) - Genetic causes/predisposed disposition is usually chronic What causes ataxia in the pediatric population? - answer-- Genetic predisposition - Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) - Prader-Willie Syndrome What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)? - answer-- A genetic condition inherited from parents which results in various developmental problems - Rare, but may be dangerous or life-threatening - Present at birth and is a lifelong condition - Rarely requires lab testing or imaging - Often linked to autism (1/3 do have autism) - X