WGU ADVANCED PATHOPHARMACOLOGICAL
FOUNDATIONS STUDY GUIDE WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTION!!
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia?
answers: - 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?
answers: - There is no cure, but there are pharmacological and non-
pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for?
answers: - 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?
answers: - 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?
,answers: - Donepezil (aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's?
answers: - Donepezil (aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of
Alzheimer's?
answers: - Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's?
answers: - Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's?
answers: - Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
What is memantine (namenda) used for?
answers: - 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?
answers: - 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)?
answers: - Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine,
whereas memantine (namenda) regulates the activity of glutamate
What is ataxia?
answers: - 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?
answers: - 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?
answers: - 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?
answers: - Genetic predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)?
answers: - 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?
answers: - Often, females are carriers and males are affected
FOUNDATIONS STUDY GUIDE WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTION!!
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia?
answers: - 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?
answers: - There is no cure, but there are pharmacological and non-
pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for?
answers: - 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?
answers: - 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?
,answers: - Donepezil (aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's?
answers: - Donepezil (aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of
Alzheimer's?
answers: - Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's?
answers: - Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's?
answers: - Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
What is memantine (namenda) used for?
answers: - 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?
answers: - 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)?
answers: - Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine,
whereas memantine (namenda) regulates the activity of glutamate
What is ataxia?
answers: - 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?
answers: - 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?
answers: - 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?
answers: - Genetic predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)?
answers: - 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?
answers: - Often, females are carriers and males are affected
