WGU D027 OA EXAM 2023-2024 ACTUAL EXAM TEST BANK
400 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES|AGRADE
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
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)
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)
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
- 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? – ANSWER- – Often, females are carriers and males are
affected - However, both males and females can be carriers, and both can be affected by the
condition - Usually milder in females
How did Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) get its name? – ANSWER- – The gene Fragile
X (the FMR1 gene) is on the X syndrome - Mutation of the FMR1 gene
What is the difference between Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome
(FXTAS) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)? – ANSWER- – Both caused by
mutations on the FMR1 gene, but they are caused by different changes in this gene - FXS is caused by a full mutation
- FXTAS is a premutation
- FXS is present at birth, but display these features in early life
- FXTAS develops in adulthood (usually after age 50) and the symptoms may
appear slowly and develop over the years - FXTAS individuals are usually healthy with normal cognitive skills prior to the
onset
How is Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) diagnosed? –
ANSWER- – Being a FMR1 premutation carrier - The appearance of neurological features such as ataxia (balance problems),
tremors, and other symptoms - MRI findings (changes in the brain)
What is Prader-Willie Syndrome? – ANSWER- – Genetic disorder that affects
many parts of the body and their growth - Causes mental and behavioral problems
- Can be dangerous or life threatening if untreated
- Combination of contraceptives contraindicated in breast feeding
- More common in females
- Confirmed from laboratory findings
What is the cause of Prader-Willi Syndrome? – ANSWER- – Depletion of
chromosome 15 from father
- Missing or non-working genes on chromosome 15 (15q11-q13)
- Most cases are not inherited and occur randomly
- Depletion of genes (genes from the region are missing)
- Uniparental disomy – both chromosomes are inherited from the mother
- Imprinting mutation – genes on the paternal chromosome is inactive
What does Prader-Willi Syndrome do to the body? – ANSWER- – Caused the
hypothalamus to malfunction (the area of the brain that affects hunger, thirst, sex
and growth hormones) - In infancy, an individual does not meet development milestones suck as sitting up
and walking - Their eyes lack coordination
What is a key feature of Prader-Willi Syndrome? – ANSWER- – A constant sense
of hunger that usually begins around 2 years of age - People with Prader-Willi Syndrome want to eat constantly because they never
feel full
What are some symptoms in infants with Prader-Willi Syndrome? – ANSWER- –
Hypotonia with floppy structure and poor muscle tone - Distinct facial features affecting the shape and size of eyes, lips, forehead, etc.
- Poor sucking ability making it difficult to feed
- Always lethargic and poor responsiveness
- Underdeveloped genitals
What is celiac disease? – ANSWER- – Autoimmune disease - Damages to the small intestinal epithelium when there is ingestion of gluten
- Loss of mucosal surface and brush border enzymes leads to severe malabsorption
that is more pronounced in the duodenum and jejunum
What strong genetic disposition does celiac disease have? – ANSWER- – Human
leukocyte antigen DQ2 (HLA-DQ2) and HLA-DQ5
What test is recommended for celiac disease? – ANSWER- – IgA-tTG - Total IgA
- Simple, inexpensive, widely available, typically covered by insurance, and is very
accurate in untreated celiac disease