Neurocognitive Disorders: Delirium and Dementia

These flashcards cover essential information regarding neurocognitive disorders, focusing specifically on delirium and dementia, their symptoms, causes, and management strategies.

What are neurocognitive disorders defined as?

A) Minor, age-related memory lapses
B) Clinically significant deficits in cognition or memory that must represent a major change from the original baseline
C) Temporary confusion due to stress
D) Inherited cognitive disabilities present from birth

B) Clinically significant deficits in cognition or memory that must represent a major change from the original baseline

How does the onset of delirium typically differ from that of dementia?

A) Delirium has a gradual onset, while dementia has a sudden onset
B) Delirium has an intermittent onset, while dementia has a consistent onset
C) Delirium has a sudden onset, while dementia has a gradual onset
D) Both delirium and dementia always have a sudden onset

C) Delirium has a sudden onset, while dementia has a gradual onset

Which of the following is a common cause of delirium?

A) Long-term dietary changes
B) Excessive physical exercise
C) Dehydration
D) Chronic low stress levels

C) Dehydration

A patient's delirium symptoms are observed to change in intensity throughout the day. This is an example of which characteristic of delirium?

A) Stability
B) Predictability
C) Fluctuation
D) Progression

C) Fluctuation

Which of the following is a common symptom of delirium?

A) Consistent calm demeanor
B) Enhanced problem-solving skills
C) Hallucinations
D) Improved concentration

C) Hallucinations

What is the key difference in cognitive decline between mild and major neurocognitive disorders?

A) Mild involves significant impairment, while major involves a modest decline
B) Mild involves temporary decline, while major involves permanent decline
C) Mild involves a modest decline, while major involves significant impairment
D) Mild affects only memory, while major affects all cognitive functions

C) Mild involves a modest decline, while major involves significant impairment

What is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of cases?

A) Lewy-body dementia
B) Vascular dementia
C) Alzheimer’s disease
D) Frontotemporal dementia

C) Alzheimer’s disease

What physical changes in the brain are associated with Alzheimer’s disease?

A) Increased brain mass and neuronal growth
B) Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
C) Enlarged ventricles only
D) Reduced cerebrospinal fluid production

B) Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles

Which of the following is an effective treatment for managing dementia?

A) High-dose sedatives
B) Cholinesterase inhibitors
C) Antibiotics
D) Immunosuppressants

B) Cholinesterase inhibitors

Lewy-body dementia is characterized by which of the following?

A) Permanent paralysis
B) Absence of hallucinations
C) Presence of parkinsonian movements
D) Tolerance to antipsychotics

C) Presence of parkinsonian movements

Why is it important to differentiate between delirium and dementia?

A) Delirium is always benign, while dementia is always reversible
B) A medical workup should rule out transient causes like delirium, as patients with confusion may be misdiagnosed
C) They are treated with the exact same medications
D) Only dementia requires hospitalization

B) A medical workup should rule out transient causes like delirium, as patients with confusion may be misdiagnosed

Which nursing intervention can help manage agitation in dementia patients?

A) Confronting the patient about their behavior
B) Isolating the patient in a quiet room without interaction
C) Remaining calm and redirecting behavior
D) Immediately increasing all medications

C) Remaining calm and redirecting behavior

What is the significance of early detection in Alzheimer’s disease?

A) It guarantees a complete cure
B) It allows for immediate termination of all symptoms
C) It can help in planning care and managing symptoms effectively
D) It prevents the disease from progressing

C) It can help in planning care and managing symptoms effectively

How should a nurse approach a patient with dementia who shows confusion?

A) Use complex medical terminology to explain their condition
B) Overwhelm the patient with multiple instructions at once
C) Use clear and simple communication
D) Avoid eye contact to prevent agitation

C) Use clear and simple communication

Which of the following is NOT a common cause of delirium?

A) Hypoxia
B) Infection
C) Consistent adequate sleep
D) Alcohol withdrawal

C) Consistent adequate sleep

Which type of neurocognitive disorder involves significant impairment that interferes with independent living?

A) Mild neurocognitive disorder
B) Early-stage memory impairment
C) Major neurocognitive disorder
D) Age-associated cognitive decline

C) Major neurocognitive disorder

A patient presents to the emergency room with acute confusion, disorientation, and slurred speech that began yesterday. This presentation is most consistent with:

A) Major neurocognitive disorder
B) Mild neurocognitive disorder
C) Alzheimer's disease
D) Delirium

D) Delirium

What specific brain pathology is characterized by deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid?

A) Neurofibrillary tangles
B) Amyloid plaques
C) Lewy bodies
D) Vascular lesions

B) Amyloid plaques

Besides cholinesterase inhibitors, what other treatment approaches are mentioned for managing dementia?

A) Vigorous physical therapy only
B) Restrictive diets and complete social isolation
C) Supportive care and mood management medications
D) Surgical interventions

C) Supportive care and mood management medications

Patients with Lewy-body dementia exhibit an extreme sensitivity to which class of medications?

A) Antidepressants
B) Antipsychotics
C) Cholinesterase inhibitors
D) Antibiotics

B) Antipsychotics

For a diagnosis of neurocognitive disorder, the deficits in cognition or memory must:

A) Be present for at least 10 years
B) Be consistent with normal aging
C) Represent a major change from the original baseline
D) Only affect short-term memory

C) Represent a major change from the original baseline

A patient experiencing acute confusion that started after a recent urinary tract infection is most likely suffering from:

A) Alzheimer's disease
B) Lewy-body dementia
C) Delirium
D) Mild neurocognitive disorder

C) Delirium

Which condition can lead to memory impairment, hallucinations, and emotional instability that tends to fluctuate throughout the day?

A) Alzheimer’s disease
B) Vascular dementia
C) Delirium
D) Frontotemporal dementia

C) Delirium

Symptoms such as confusion, memory impairment, delusions, and sleep issues are common in which condition?

A) Schizophrenia
B) Delirium
C) Major depressive disorder
D) Obsessive-compulsive disorder

B) Delirium

What percentage of dementia cases are accounted for by Alzheimer’s disease?

A) 10-20%
B) 30-40%
C) 60-80%
D) 90-100%

C) 60-80%

Neurofibrillary tangles found in the brain are associated with which disease?

A) Parkinson's disease
B) Huntington's disease
C) Alzheimer’s disease
D) Multiple sclerosis

C) Alzheimer’s disease

To effectively manage dementia, what type of care focuses on supporting the patient's overall well-being and daily living?

A) Aggressive medical treatments only
B) Restorative therapy
C) Supportive care
D) Experimental gene therapy

C) Supportive care

Which characteristic is unique to Lewy-body dementia compared to other dementias?

A) Early and prominent memory loss
B) Severe apathy and disinhibition
C) Fluctuating cognition and recurrent visual hallucinations
D) Purely motor symptoms without cognitive decline

C) Fluctuating cognition and recurrent visual hallucinations

When managing agitation in patients with dementia, why is redirecting behavior an important nursing intervention?

A) To directly challenge the patient's delusions
B) To provide a new focus and reduce distress
C) To ignore the patient's feelings
D) To sedate the patient immediately

B) To provide a new focus and reduce distress

Providing emotional support to a patient with dementia who is confused is recommended because:

A) It makes the nurse feel better
B) It always cures their confusion
C) It helps to reduce anxiety and promotes a sense of security
D) It teaches them to be less confused

C) It helps to reduce anxiety and promotes a sense of security