NURSING 320 EXAMINATION 1 (NUR 320) EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What happens to neurotransmitters in normal aging? - ANSWER>>Possible loss,
e.g., reduced dopaminergic function.
How does cerebral blood flow change with age? - ANSWER>>Decreases due to
changes in cardiovascular and respiratory systems, or less demand from brain, or
reduced astrocytes
How does sensory function change with age? - ANSWER>>Diminished; slower
response to stimuli.
What happens to brain ventricles in older adults? - ANSWER>>Ventricles enlarge
(>60 y/o).
What happens to neurons and brain weight with age? - ANSWER>>Some neuronal
loss/shrinkage; reduced brain weight (esp. white matter).
List cognitive abilities that normally decline with age. - ANSWER>>Information
processing speed
Divided attention
Rapidly switching auditory input
Sustained attention/vigilance
Filtering irrelevant info
,Visual-spatial tasks
Word finding
Abstract reasoning
Mental flexibility
Define dementia. - ANSWER>>Decline from previous level of function in ≥1
cognitive domain (attention, executive function, language, memory, perceptual-
motor, social cognition); umbrella term for diseases like Alzheimer's, vascular,
Lewy body, frontotemporal.
Define delirium. - ANSWER>>Sudden cognitive impairment/confusion; a medical
emergency.
What are major causes/risk factors for delirium (mnemonic)? - ANSWER>>D-
dementia/dehydration
E-electrolytes/emotion
L-lung/liver/heart/kidney
I-infection/ICU; R-Rx drugs
I-injury/immobility
U-untreated pain/unfamiliar environment
M-metabolic disorders.
How does the onset of dementia typically present? -
ANSWER>>Gradual/insidious; develops over 4-8 years.
How does the onset of delirium typically present? - ANSWER>>Abrupt (hours-
days), although may be subtle at first.
How does the onset of depression typically present? - ANSWER>>Often abrupt;
coincides with life changes.
, What is the progression/duration of dementia? - ANSWER>>Slow, progressive
decline over years (average 8 years but can be longer).
What is the progression/duration of delirium? - ANSWER>>Rapid fluctuation over
hours to days (can last weeks if underlying cause persists).
What is the progression/duration of depression? - ANSWER>>Variable—may be
rapid or slow, months to years if untreated.
How is thinking affected in dementia? - ANSWER>>Difficulty with abstract
thinking, impaired judgment, word-finding problems.
How is thinking affected in delirium? - ANSWER>>Disorganized, distorted; slow or
accelerated incoherent speech.
How is thinking affected in depression? - ANSWER>>Generally intact but with
apathy, fatigue, indecision, hopelessness.
What perceptual changes occur in dementia? - ANSWER>>Misperceptions
common; delusions and hallucinations may occur.
What perceptual changes occur in delirium? - ANSWER>>Distorted perception;
delusions and hallucinations frequent.
What perceptual changes occur in depression? - ANSWER>>May deny or be
unaware of depression; feelings of guilt; often withdrawn/hypoactive.
Describe psychomotor changes in dementia. - ANSWER>>May pace or be
hyperactive; later unable to perform tasks/movements on command.
Describe psychomotor changes in delirium. - ANSWER>>Variable—hyperactive,
hypoactive, or mixed.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What happens to neurotransmitters in normal aging? - ANSWER>>Possible loss,
e.g., reduced dopaminergic function.
How does cerebral blood flow change with age? - ANSWER>>Decreases due to
changes in cardiovascular and respiratory systems, or less demand from brain, or
reduced astrocytes
How does sensory function change with age? - ANSWER>>Diminished; slower
response to stimuli.
What happens to brain ventricles in older adults? - ANSWER>>Ventricles enlarge
(>60 y/o).
What happens to neurons and brain weight with age? - ANSWER>>Some neuronal
loss/shrinkage; reduced brain weight (esp. white matter).
List cognitive abilities that normally decline with age. - ANSWER>>Information
processing speed
Divided attention
Rapidly switching auditory input
Sustained attention/vigilance
Filtering irrelevant info
,Visual-spatial tasks
Word finding
Abstract reasoning
Mental flexibility
Define dementia. - ANSWER>>Decline from previous level of function in ≥1
cognitive domain (attention, executive function, language, memory, perceptual-
motor, social cognition); umbrella term for diseases like Alzheimer's, vascular,
Lewy body, frontotemporal.
Define delirium. - ANSWER>>Sudden cognitive impairment/confusion; a medical
emergency.
What are major causes/risk factors for delirium (mnemonic)? - ANSWER>>D-
dementia/dehydration
E-electrolytes/emotion
L-lung/liver/heart/kidney
I-infection/ICU; R-Rx drugs
I-injury/immobility
U-untreated pain/unfamiliar environment
M-metabolic disorders.
How does the onset of dementia typically present? -
ANSWER>>Gradual/insidious; develops over 4-8 years.
How does the onset of delirium typically present? - ANSWER>>Abrupt (hours-
days), although may be subtle at first.
How does the onset of depression typically present? - ANSWER>>Often abrupt;
coincides with life changes.
, What is the progression/duration of dementia? - ANSWER>>Slow, progressive
decline over years (average 8 years but can be longer).
What is the progression/duration of delirium? - ANSWER>>Rapid fluctuation over
hours to days (can last weeks if underlying cause persists).
What is the progression/duration of depression? - ANSWER>>Variable—may be
rapid or slow, months to years if untreated.
How is thinking affected in dementia? - ANSWER>>Difficulty with abstract
thinking, impaired judgment, word-finding problems.
How is thinking affected in delirium? - ANSWER>>Disorganized, distorted; slow or
accelerated incoherent speech.
How is thinking affected in depression? - ANSWER>>Generally intact but with
apathy, fatigue, indecision, hopelessness.
What perceptual changes occur in dementia? - ANSWER>>Misperceptions
common; delusions and hallucinations may occur.
What perceptual changes occur in delirium? - ANSWER>>Distorted perception;
delusions and hallucinations frequent.
What perceptual changes occur in depression? - ANSWER>>May deny or be
unaware of depression; feelings of guilt; often withdrawn/hypoactive.
Describe psychomotor changes in dementia. - ANSWER>>May pace or be
hyperactive; later unable to perform tasks/movements on command.
Describe psychomotor changes in delirium. - ANSWER>>Variable—hyperactive,
hypoactive, or mixed.
