WGU: D027: Advanced
Pathopharmacological Foundations
2024/2025 Exam Questions and Detailed
Answers | Get it 100% Correct Answers
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-
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? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- There is no cure, but there are
pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
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
Page 1 of 105
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER:
619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
,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
What are some commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors? - 🧠ANSWER
✔✔- Donepezil (aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's? -
🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Donepezil (aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of
Alzheimer's? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's
and Parkinson's? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's?
- 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
Page 2 of 105
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER:
619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
,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
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
What is the difference in MOA between cholinesterase inhibitors and
memantine (namenda)? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the
breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas memantine (namenda) regulates the
activity of glutamate
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)
Page 3 of 105
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER:
619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, 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
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
What causes ataxia in the pediatric population? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Genetic
predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
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
Page 4 of 105
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER:
619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Pathopharmacological Foundations
2024/2025 Exam Questions and Detailed
Answers | Get it 100% Correct Answers
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-
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? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- There is no cure, but there are
pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
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
Page 1 of 105
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER:
619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
,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
What are some commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors? - 🧠ANSWER
✔✔- Donepezil (aricept)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's? -
🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Donepezil (aricept)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of
Alzheimer's? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Galantamine (razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's
and Parkinson's? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Rivastigmine (exeleon)
What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's?
- 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept)
Page 2 of 105
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER:
619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
,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
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
What is the difference in MOA between cholinesterase inhibitors and
memantine (namenda)? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the
breakdown of acetylcholine, whereas memantine (namenda) regulates the
activity of glutamate
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)
Page 3 of 105
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER:
619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, 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
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
What causes ataxia in the pediatric population? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔- Genetic
predisposition
- Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Prader-Willie Syndrome
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
Page 4 of 105
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER:
619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
