WGU: D027: ADVANCED PATHOPHARMACOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS Q& A 2024

What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - correct 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? - correct answer - There is no cure, but there are pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments - Cholinesterase inhibitors - Memantine (namenda) What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? - correct answer - 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? - correct 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? - correct answer - Donepezil (aricept) - Galantamine (razadyne) - Rivastigmine (exeleon) Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for all stages of Alzheimer's? - correct answer - Donepezil (aricept) Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's? - correct answer - Galantamine (razadyne) - Rivastigmine (exeleon) Which cholinesterase inhibitor can be used for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's and Parkinson's? - correct answer - Rivastigmine (exeleon) What medication combination is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's? - correct answer - Memantine (namenda) and donepezil (aricept) What is memantine (namenda) used for? - correct 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? - correct answer - Regulates the activity of glutamate, a