Neurological Conditions NP Exam
Collection – 150 Solved Test Bank Items
Answers and Rationale Included
(2025/2026)
1. A 68-year-old patient presents with resting tremor, bradykinesia, and
rigidity. Which condition is most consistent with these findings?
Parkinson’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease
Huntington’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the classic triad of
resting tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity due to dopaminergic neuron
loss in the substantia nigra.
2. A patient with multiple sclerosis experiences sudden worsening of
symptoms after a hot shower. What is this phenomenon called?
Uhthoff’s phenomenon
Lhermitte’s sign
Babinski sign
Clonus
Rationale: Uhthoff’s phenomenon refers to temporary worsening of
MS symptoms due to heat, commonly triggered by hot showers or
exercise.
3. Which medication is first-line therapy for acute ischemic stroke if
given within 3–4.5 hours of symptom onset?
Alteplase (tPA)
Aspirin
,Clopidogrel
Heparin
Rationale: Alteplase (tPA) is the tissue plasminogen activator used in
eligible patients for reperfusion therapy within the therapeutic
window.
4. A patient presents with sudden onset of severe headache described
as “worst headache of my life.” Which condition should be suspected?
Migraine
Tension headache
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Cluster headache
Rationale: A sudden, severe headache (“thunderclap headache”) is
classic for subarachnoid hemorrhage, often due to ruptured
aneurysm.
5. Which symptom is most characteristic of myasthenia gravis?
Spasticity
Muscle weakness worsens with activity
Ataxia
Sensory loss
Rationale: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting
acetylcholine receptors, leading to fatigable muscle weakness.
6. A 75-year-old patient has memory loss, personality changes, and
difficulty with problem-solving. MRI shows cortical atrophy. What is the
most likely diagnosis?
Parkinson’s disease
Frontotemporal dementia
Alzheimer’s disease
Lewy body dementia
,Rationale: Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive memory
loss, cognitive decline, and cortical atrophy on imaging.
7. A patient presents with sudden weakness of the left arm and leg,
facial droop, and slurred speech. Which artery is most likely involved?
Posterior cerebral artery
Middle cerebral artery
Anterior cerebral artery
Basilar artery
Rationale: MCA strokes often cause contralateral face and arm
weakness, with possible sensory and speech deficits.
8. Which test is most sensitive for diagnosing multiple sclerosis?
CT scan
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
MRI of the brain and spinal cord
Lumbar puncture only
Rationale: MRI with demyelinating plaques in CNS white matter is the
most sensitive diagnostic tool for MS.
9. Which medication is commonly used as prophylaxis for migraine
headaches?
Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen
Topiramate
Sumatriptan
Rationale: Topiramate, a seizure and migraine prophylactic agent, is
used to prevent migraine attacks.
10. Which type of seizure is characterized by sudden brief lapses in
awareness, often in children?
Tonic-clonic seizure
Myoclonic seizure
, Absence seizure
Focal seizure
Rationale: Absence seizures present as brief staring episodes,
primarily in pediatric populations.
11. A patient presents with sudden vision loss in one eye. Fundoscopic
exam shows “cherry-red spot.” Which condition is most likely?
Glaucoma
Optic neuritis
Central retinal artery occlusion
Diabetic retinopathy
Rationale: Central retinal artery occlusion causes sudden monocular
vision loss with a cherry-red spot on the macula.
12. Which neurotransmitter is primarily deficient in Parkinson’s
disease?
Acetylcholine
GABA
Dopamine
Serotonin
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease results from degeneration of
dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to dopamine
deficiency.
13. A patient presents with resting tremor, shuffling gait, and masked
facies. Which medication class is used as first-line therapy?
SSRIs
Benzodiazepines
Levodopa/carbidopa
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Rationale: Levodopa is converted to dopamine in the brain, alleviating
Parkinsonian motor symptoms.
Collection – 150 Solved Test Bank Items
Answers and Rationale Included
(2025/2026)
1. A 68-year-old patient presents with resting tremor, bradykinesia, and
rigidity. Which condition is most consistent with these findings?
Parkinson’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease
Huntington’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the classic triad of
resting tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity due to dopaminergic neuron
loss in the substantia nigra.
2. A patient with multiple sclerosis experiences sudden worsening of
symptoms after a hot shower. What is this phenomenon called?
Uhthoff’s phenomenon
Lhermitte’s sign
Babinski sign
Clonus
Rationale: Uhthoff’s phenomenon refers to temporary worsening of
MS symptoms due to heat, commonly triggered by hot showers or
exercise.
3. Which medication is first-line therapy for acute ischemic stroke if
given within 3–4.5 hours of symptom onset?
Alteplase (tPA)
Aspirin
,Clopidogrel
Heparin
Rationale: Alteplase (tPA) is the tissue plasminogen activator used in
eligible patients for reperfusion therapy within the therapeutic
window.
4. A patient presents with sudden onset of severe headache described
as “worst headache of my life.” Which condition should be suspected?
Migraine
Tension headache
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Cluster headache
Rationale: A sudden, severe headache (“thunderclap headache”) is
classic for subarachnoid hemorrhage, often due to ruptured
aneurysm.
5. Which symptom is most characteristic of myasthenia gravis?
Spasticity
Muscle weakness worsens with activity
Ataxia
Sensory loss
Rationale: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting
acetylcholine receptors, leading to fatigable muscle weakness.
6. A 75-year-old patient has memory loss, personality changes, and
difficulty with problem-solving. MRI shows cortical atrophy. What is the
most likely diagnosis?
Parkinson’s disease
Frontotemporal dementia
Alzheimer’s disease
Lewy body dementia
,Rationale: Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive memory
loss, cognitive decline, and cortical atrophy on imaging.
7. A patient presents with sudden weakness of the left arm and leg,
facial droop, and slurred speech. Which artery is most likely involved?
Posterior cerebral artery
Middle cerebral artery
Anterior cerebral artery
Basilar artery
Rationale: MCA strokes often cause contralateral face and arm
weakness, with possible sensory and speech deficits.
8. Which test is most sensitive for diagnosing multiple sclerosis?
CT scan
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
MRI of the brain and spinal cord
Lumbar puncture only
Rationale: MRI with demyelinating plaques in CNS white matter is the
most sensitive diagnostic tool for MS.
9. Which medication is commonly used as prophylaxis for migraine
headaches?
Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen
Topiramate
Sumatriptan
Rationale: Topiramate, a seizure and migraine prophylactic agent, is
used to prevent migraine attacks.
10. Which type of seizure is characterized by sudden brief lapses in
awareness, often in children?
Tonic-clonic seizure
Myoclonic seizure
, Absence seizure
Focal seizure
Rationale: Absence seizures present as brief staring episodes,
primarily in pediatric populations.
11. A patient presents with sudden vision loss in one eye. Fundoscopic
exam shows “cherry-red spot.” Which condition is most likely?
Glaucoma
Optic neuritis
Central retinal artery occlusion
Diabetic retinopathy
Rationale: Central retinal artery occlusion causes sudden monocular
vision loss with a cherry-red spot on the macula.
12. Which neurotransmitter is primarily deficient in Parkinson’s
disease?
Acetylcholine
GABA
Dopamine
Serotonin
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease results from degeneration of
dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to dopamine
deficiency.
13. A patient presents with resting tremor, shuffling gait, and masked
facies. Which medication class is used as first-line therapy?
SSRIs
Benzodiazepines
Levodopa/carbidopa
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Rationale: Levodopa is converted to dopamine in the brain, alleviating
Parkinsonian motor symptoms.
