WGU: D027: Advanced Pathopharmacological
Foundations questions with verified answers
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? Ans ✔✔--
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? Ans ✔✔-- There is no cure, but there are
pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans
✔✔-- Donepezil (aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
,- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's?
Ans ✔✔-- Donepezil (aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages
of Alzheimer's? Ans ✔✔-- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's? Ans ✔✔-- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe
Alzheimer's? Ans ✔✔-- Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
What is memantine (namenda) used for? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans ✔✔-- 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)? Ans ✔✔-- Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the
breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas memantine (namenda) regulates
the activity of glutamate
What is ataxia? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans ✔✔-- Genetic
predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
, What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)? Ans ✔✔-- 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-linked disorder
Since Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an X-linked disorder, does a specific
gender have a greater risk? Ans ✔✔-- Often, females are carriers and
males are affected
- However, both males and females can be carriers, and both can be
affected by the condition
- Usually milder in females
How did Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) get its name? Ans ✔✔-- The gene
Fragile X (the FMR1 gene) is on the X syndrome
- Mutation of the FMR1 gene
What is the difference between Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia
Syndrome (FXTAS) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)? Ans ✔✔-- Both
caused by mutations on the FMR1 gene, but they are caused by different
changes in this gene
- FXS is caused by a full mutation
Foundations questions with verified answers
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? Ans ✔✔--
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? Ans ✔✔-- There is no cure, but there are
pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans
✔✔-- Donepezil (aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
,- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's?
Ans ✔✔-- Donepezil (aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages
of Alzheimer's? Ans ✔✔-- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's? Ans ✔✔-- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe
Alzheimer's? Ans ✔✔-- Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
What is memantine (namenda) used for? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans ✔✔-- 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)? Ans ✔✔-- Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the
breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas memantine (namenda) regulates
the activity of glutamate
What is ataxia? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans ✔✔-- 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? Ans ✔✔-- Genetic
predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
, What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)? Ans ✔✔-- 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-linked disorder
Since Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an X-linked disorder, does a specific
gender have a greater risk? Ans ✔✔-- Often, females are carriers and
males are affected
- However, both males and females can be carriers, and both can be
affected by the condition
- Usually milder in females
How did Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) get its name? Ans ✔✔-- The gene
Fragile X (the FMR1 gene) is on the X syndrome
- Mutation of the FMR1 gene
What is the difference between Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia
Syndrome (FXTAS) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)? Ans ✔✔-- Both
caused by mutations on the FMR1 gene, but they are caused by different
changes in this gene
- FXS is caused by a full mutation
