MDC 4 NUR2755
FINAL EXAM
Alzheimer’s Mild Stage
-Forgets names; misplaces household items
-Has short-term memory loss and difficulty recalling new information
-Shows subtle changes in personality and behavior
Alzheimer’s Moderate Stage
-Is disoriented to time, place, and event
-Has difficulty driving and gets lost
-Incontinent
-Psychotic behaviors, such as delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia
-Episodes of wandering, trouble sleeping
Alzheimer’s Late Stage
-Totally incapacitated; bedridden
-Totally dependent in ADLs
-Has agnosia
-Hallucinations
-Incontinence
-Difficulty eating
Apraxia
Difficulty with motor planning to perform tasks or movements
Aphasia
Inability to speak or understand language
Anomia
Inability to recall the names of everyday objects
Agnosia
Loss of sensory comprehension, including facial recognition
Alzheimer’s diagnostics
-No laboratory test can confirm the diagnosis of AD
-Definitive diagnosis is made on the basis of brain tissue examination at autopsy, which
confirms the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques
Alzheimer’s medications
Cholinesterase inhibitors- Donepezil, galantamine
NMDA receptor antagonists- Memantine
Parkinson’s symptoms
-Slow, shuffling, and propulsive gait
-RESTING tremors
-Muscle rigidity
-Bradykinesia/akinesia (loss of ability to move muscles voluntarily)
-Mask Like face
-Drooling
-Postural instability
Parkinson’s diagnostics
-Diagnosis typically made based on manifestations, their progression, and by ruling out
other disease
-Analysis of CSF may show a decrease in dopamine levels
Parkinson’s medications
Carbidopa/Levodopa (Sinemet)
Parkinson’s surgical interventions
Stereotactic pallidotomy or thalamotomy
Migraine triggers
-Caffeine
-Red wine
-MSG
-Foods high in tyramine (aged cheeses, cultured food like yogurt)
Migraine abortive therapy
Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, triptans, ergotamine derivatives
Migraine preventative therapy
Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antiepileptics, Botox
Migraine surgical treatment
Trigeminal nerve resection
Aura symptoms
-Visual disturbances
-Flashing lights/lines/spots
-Numbness of lips or tongue
-Acute confused state
-Aphasia
-Vertigo
-Unilateral weakness*
-Offensive smell
-“Deja vu” feeling
Multiple sclerosis clinical manifestations
-Muscle weakness and spasticity
-Intention tremors (tremor when performing an activity)
-Diplopia (double vision)
-Nystagmus (an involuntary condition in which the eyes make repetitive uncontrolled
movements)
-Depression/labile