1.  The lead agency for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health is
the National Institute of Mental Health
the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
the National Institute of Nursing Research
the National Institute on Aging

2.  Typically, the symptoms for Alzheimer's disease appear
after age 50
after age 55
after age 60
after age 65

3.  The annual number of new cases of Alzheimer's disease is expected to begin climbing sharply around 2040, because
all baby boomers will be over 65
no preventive treatments are expected to become available
people over the age of 85 are the group with the highest risk of AD
the number of caregivers will steadily grow as our population ages

4.  The human brain differs from those of other animals in that
our brains are made of nerve cells and lots of other cell types
the neurons in our brains function differently from those of other animals
we have fewer interconnections among the nerve cells in the cerebral cortex
we have many more neurons in the cerebral cortex

5.  Which of the following areas of the brain is not correctly matched with its function?
brain stem - controls emotions and instinctive behavior
cerebellum - controls walking and balance
cerebral cortex - controls voluntary movement and regulates mental activity
hypothalamus - monitors body temperature and food intake

6.  All of the following are normal signs of aging EXCEPT
an increase in free radical damage
development of small amounts of tangles and plaques in the neurons
inability to perform complex tasks involving attention, learning, and memory
shrinkage of neurons

7.  Healthy neurons depend upon all of the following processes EXCEPT
communication
metabolism
repair
replication

8.  The first visible sign of Alzheimer's disease is
lack of coordination
loss of balance
memory loss
speech impairment

9.  The mild stage of Alzheimer's disease can typically exhibit any of the following symptoms EXCEPT
getting lost
problems with perceptual motor skills
poor decision making
trouble handling financial matters

10.  The moderate stage of Alzheimer's disease can typically exhibit any of the following symptoms EXCEPT
inability to recognize family and friends
language difficulty
loss of bowel and bladder control
problems with perceptual motor skills

11.  Researchers have found a connection among early-onset AD and the production of all of the following by mutated genes EXCEPT
abnormal amyloid precursor protein
apolipoprotein E
presenilin 1
presenilin 2

12.  Studies have confirmed that the risk of developing late-onset AD is increased by the presence of the
APOE - 1 allele
APOE - 2 allele
APOE - 3 allele
APOE - 4 allele

13.  All of the following are considered factors in the development of AD EXCEPT
beta-amyloid plaques
elevated levels of homocysteine
overabsorption of folic acid
tau abnormalities

14.  All of the following are current tools for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease EXCEPT
brain scans
data gathering from people close to the patient
neuroimaging
neuropsychological testing

15.  Which of the following statements is inaccurate:
Acetylcholine levels are greatly decreased in patients with AD.
Clinical trials, focusing on finding a cure for AD, are being conducted on approximately thirty compounds.
One of the primary goals of AD treatment research is to enable people to maintain a normal lifestyle and their mental abilities.
The five medications approved by the FDA since late 2003 cannot stop or reverse AD.

16.  Of these groups of people, this is the least involved group of caregivers for an AD patient:
Daughters
Daughters-in-law
Sons
Spouses

Take Exam Now!