WGU: D027: ADVANCED
PATHOPHARMACOLOGICAL
FOUNDATIONS WITH ELABORATED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2025
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- There is no cure, but there are pharmacological and
non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- Donepezil
(aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
,- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's? - CORRECT ANSWERS --
Donepezil (aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's? - CORRECT
ANSWERS -- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's and Parkinson's? -
CORRECT ANSWERS -- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's? - CORRECT ANSWERS --
Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
What is memantine (namenda) used for? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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)? -
CORRECT ANSWERS -- Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas
memantine (namenda) regulates the activity of glutamate
What is ataxia? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- Genetic predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)? - CORRECT 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? -
CORRECT ANSWERS -- 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- 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)? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- 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
- FXTAS is a premutation
- FXS is present at birth, but display these features in early life
- FXTAS develops in adulthood (usually after age 50) and the symptoms may appear slowly and develop
over the years
- FXTAS individuals are usually healthy with normal cognitive skills prior to the onset
How is Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) diagnosed? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- Being
a FMR1 premutation carrier
- The appearance of neurological features such as ataxia (balance problems), tremors, and other
symptoms
- MRI findings (changes in the brain)
What is Prader-Willie Syndrome? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- Genetic disorder that affects many parts of the
body and their growth
- Causes mental and behavioral problems
- Can be dangerous or life threatening if untreated
- Combination of contraceptives contraindicated in breast feeding
- More common in females
- Confirmed from laboratory findings
PATHOPHARMACOLOGICAL
FOUNDATIONS WITH ELABORATED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2025
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- There is no cure, but there are pharmacological and
non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- Donepezil
(aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
,- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's? - CORRECT ANSWERS --
Donepezil (aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's? - CORRECT
ANSWERS -- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's and Parkinson's? -
CORRECT ANSWERS -- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's? - CORRECT ANSWERS --
Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
What is memantine (namenda) used for? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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)? -
CORRECT ANSWERS -- Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas
memantine (namenda) regulates the activity of glutamate
What is ataxia? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- Genetic predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
What is Fragile X syndrome (FXS)? - CORRECT 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? -
CORRECT ANSWERS -- 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- 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)? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- 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
- FXTAS is a premutation
- FXS is present at birth, but display these features in early life
- FXTAS develops in adulthood (usually after age 50) and the symptoms may appear slowly and develop
over the years
- FXTAS individuals are usually healthy with normal cognitive skills prior to the onset
How is Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) diagnosed? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- Being
a FMR1 premutation carrier
- The appearance of neurological features such as ataxia (balance problems), tremors, and other
symptoms
- MRI findings (changes in the brain)
What is Prader-Willie Syndrome? - CORRECT ANSWERS -- Genetic disorder that affects many parts of the
body and their growth
- Causes mental and behavioral problems
- Can be dangerous or life threatening if untreated
- Combination of contraceptives contraindicated in breast feeding
- More common in females
- Confirmed from laboratory findings
