Deck 18: Neurocognitive Disorders

Question 1

All of the following apply to neurocognitive disorder (NCD) EXCEPT:

A) Alzheimer's disease is the least common cause of dementia.
B) Nearly half of all people aged 85 and older have an NCD.
C) There is a high co-occurrence between depression and many NCDs.
D) Common symptoms of NCD include impairment in memory and deficits in abstract thinking, language, judgment, attention, and ability to concentrate or calculate.

Answer 1

Alzheimer's disease is the least common cause of dementia.

Question 2

Which of the following is the best approach to reducing neurocognitive disorders (NCDs)?

A) Medications for NCDs.
B) Nutrition.
C) Steroids.
D) Prevention and preventive strategies.

Answer 2

Prevention and preventive strategies.

Question 3

Delirium is more associated with ___ while dementia is associated with ___ .

A) Difficulty with attention that is rarely reversible; difficulty with memory that is often reversible.
B) Difficulty with attention that is often reversible; difficulty with memory that is rarely reversible.
C) Difficulty with memory that occurs for a brief time; difficulty with attention that is degenerative.
D) Difficulty with memory that is degenerative; difficulty with attention that occurs for a brief time.

Answer 3

Difficulty with attention that is often reversible; difficulty with memory that is rarely reversible.

Question 4

Which of the following can cause mild NCD but not major NCD?

A) Alzheimer's disease.
B) Vascular disease.
C) Traumatic brain injury.
D) None of these apply because any of the above can contribute to either mild NCD or major NCD.

Question 5

All of the following are true of Alzheimer's disease EXCEPT:

A) At present, there is no established neurological test to determine that Alzheimer's is the cause of one's dementia.
B) Prolonged depression and lack of exercise can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
C) The cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease usually come on suddenly and remain stable over time.
D) One of the first symptoms noticed in Alzheimer's disease is a deficit in short-term memory and small changes in executive functioning.

Question 6

Frontotemporal neurocognitive disorder (FTLD):

A) Is the most frequently diagnosed cause of dementia in adults before age 60.
B) Has a faster decline and shorter survival time than Alzheimer's disease.
C) Usually has initial symptoms that are behavioral (e.g., disinhibition) or language (e.g., loss of speech).
D) All of the above.

Question 7

Research on individuals with NCDs indicates that a transition to long-term care or other similar facilities generally has the immediate effect of reducing agitation, irritability, and disorientation.

Question 8

The cause and progression of NCD due to HIV infection is even less understood than NCD due to Alzheimer's disease.

Question 9

All of the following are related to traumatic brain injury (TBI) EXCEPT:

A) Boys who participate in sports have concussions more often than girls who participate in sports.
B) Headaches, fatigue, irritability, and sleep disturbance commonly co-occur with TBI.
C) Mild TBI usually resolves in weeks to months.
D) TBI is associated with symptoms like loss of consciousness, amnesia, confusion, or disorientation.

Question 10

Repeated use of certain substances or medications (e.g., alcohol, sedatives) can cause neurocognitive disorder-like symptoms. However, to be diagnosed with a substance/medication-induced NCD, the symptoms must persist beyond the typical duration of intoxication or acute withdrawal.

Question 11

Using substances or medications as an adolescent or young adult puts one at greater risk for developing a substance/medication-induced NCD than doing so after age 50.

Question 12

When someone develops NCD as the result of a stroke, it is called:

A) Stroke-induced NCD.
B) Cerebronuclear NCD.
C) Vascular NCD.
D) Hypertensive NCD.

Question 13

______ is the most frequently used assessment tool for major NCD. It involves asking a knowledgeable caregiver about possible disturbances experienced by the individual.

A) Mini-Mental Status Exam.
B) Clock-Drawing Task.
C) Mini-Mental Status Exam, Caregiver Version.
D) Neuropsychiatric Inventory.

Question 14

Which of the following has been found helpful when treating those with NCD?

A) Exercise and increased social interaction.
B) Mindfulness-based meditation and stress reduction techniques.
C) Education and social support for caregivers.
D) All of the above.