WGU D027 Objective Assessment
Review (Latest 2026/ 2027 Update)
Advanced Pathopharmacological
Foundations| Questions and Verified
Answers| 100% Correct| Grade A exam
2
1. What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia?
Answer:- - Brain shrinks dramatically; nerve cell death and tissue loss
- Cardinal signs Answer:- plaques (abnormal clusters of protein
fragments) and tangles (twisted strands of another protein)
2. How is Alzheimer's treated? Answer:- - There is no cure, but there
are pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
3. 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
4. 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
5. What are some commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors?
Answer:- - Donepezil
(aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
,6.Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of
Alzheimer's? Answer:- -
Donepezil (aricept)
7.Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate
stages of
Alzheimer's? Answer:- - Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
8. Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's? Answer:- - Rivastigmine (exeleon)
9. What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe
Alzheimer's? Answer:- - Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
10. 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
11. 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
12. What is the difference in MOA between cholinesterase inhibitors
and me-
mantine (namenda)? Answer:- - Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the
breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas memantine (namenda) regulates
the activity of glutamate
13. 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)
14. 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
,15. 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
16. What causes ataxia in the pediatric population? Answer:- - Genetic
predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
17. 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-linked disorder
18. Since Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an X-linked disorder, does a
specific
gender have a greater risk? Answer:- - 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
19. How did Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) get its name? Answer:- - The
gene Fragile X (the FMR1 gene) is on the X syndrome - Mutation of
the FMR1 gene
20. What is the difference between Fragile X-Associated
Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)?
Answer:- - 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
21. How is Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
diagnosed? Answer:- -
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)
22. What is Prader-Willie Syndrome? Answer:- - 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
23. What is the cause of Prader-Willi Syndrome? Answer:- - Depletion
of chromosome 15 from father
- Missing or non-working genes on chromosome 15 (15q11-q13)
- Most cases are not inherited and occur randomly
- Depletion of genes (genes from the region are missing)
- Uniparental disomy - both chromosomes are inherited from the
mother
- Imprinting mutation - genes on the paternal chromosome is inactive
24. What does Prader-Willi Syndrome do to the body? Answer:- -
Caused the hypothalamus to
malfunction (the area of the brain that affects hunger,
thirst, sex and growth hormones) - In infancy, an individual
does not meet development milestones suck as sitting up
and walking - Their eyes lack coordination
Review (Latest 2026/ 2027 Update)
Advanced Pathopharmacological
Foundations| Questions and Verified
Answers| 100% Correct| Grade A exam
2
1. What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia?
Answer:- - Brain shrinks dramatically; nerve cell death and tissue loss
- Cardinal signs Answer:- plaques (abnormal clusters of protein
fragments) and tangles (twisted strands of another protein)
2. How is Alzheimer's treated? Answer:- - There is no cure, but there
are pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
3. 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
4. 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
5. What are some commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors?
Answer:- - Donepezil
(aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
,6.Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of
Alzheimer's? Answer:- -
Donepezil (aricept)
7.Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate
stages of
Alzheimer's? Answer:- - Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
8. Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's? Answer:- - Rivastigmine (exeleon)
9. What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe
Alzheimer's? Answer:- - Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
10. 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
11. 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
12. What is the difference in MOA between cholinesterase inhibitors
and me-
mantine (namenda)? Answer:- - Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the
breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas memantine (namenda) regulates
the activity of glutamate
13. 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)
14. 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
,15. 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
16. What causes ataxia in the pediatric population? Answer:- - Genetic
predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
17. 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-linked disorder
18. Since Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an X-linked disorder, does a
specific
gender have a greater risk? Answer:- - 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
19. How did Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) get its name? Answer:- - The
gene Fragile X (the FMR1 gene) is on the X syndrome - Mutation of
the FMR1 gene
20. What is the difference between Fragile X-Associated
Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)?
Answer:- - 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
21. How is Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
diagnosed? Answer:- -
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)
22. What is Prader-Willie Syndrome? Answer:- - 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
23. What is the cause of Prader-Willi Syndrome? Answer:- - Depletion
of chromosome 15 from father
- Missing or non-working genes on chromosome 15 (15q11-q13)
- Most cases are not inherited and occur randomly
- Depletion of genes (genes from the region are missing)
- Uniparental disomy - both chromosomes are inherited from the
mother
- Imprinting mutation - genes on the paternal chromosome is inactive
24. What does Prader-Willi Syndrome do to the body? Answer:- -
Caused the hypothalamus to
malfunction (the area of the brain that affects hunger,
thirst, sex and growth hormones) - In infancy, an individual
does not meet development milestones suck as sitting up
and walking - Their eyes lack coordination
