WGU ADVANCED PATHOPHARMACOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS STUDY GUIDE WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION!!

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