Family Medicine Memory Loss: Review Questions Barbara Fogle Mercer, MD Dr. Mercer is an associate professor of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, Flint, MI. Choose the single best answer for each question.
	1. A 74-year-old woman presents to your office complaining of difficulties with her memory. In your evaluation, all of the following should be considered EXCEPT: A relative or other close observer should corroborate her history In healthy older persons, the ability to learn new information declines The history should include medication use Her chance of having Alzheimer’s dementia is less than 5% Knowledge of the patient’s social functioning is important in the diagnosis of dementia Click here to compare your answer. 2. All of the following are known reversible causes of dementia EXCEPT: Hypercalcemia Major depression Normal-pressure hydrocephalus Parkinson’s disease Vitamin B12 deficiency Click here to compare your answer. 3. Which of the following statements regarding the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is correct? A person who scores 21 points or fewer has dementia Abstract thinking is one of the components of the MMSE The MMSE can differentiate between vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s dementia Educational background does not have to be considered when scoring the MMSE The MMSE has both written and verbal responses Click here to compare your answer.		4. An 80-year-old man is admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. He has a history of hypertension and mild dementia. After admission, he becomes agitated, anxious, and more confused than his baseline. He is disoriented but cooperates with medical treatment. His family is present. Which of the following is most appropriate for the management of this patient with delirium? Observation Restrict family visits Use physical restraints to prevent the patient from pulling out his intravenous line Administer haloperidol 0.5 mg twice per day Administer lorazepam 1 mg intravenously every 6 hours Click here to compare your answer. 5. A 69-year-old woman has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer¹s disease by a local neurologist. She returns to her family physician for follow-up management. All of the following are reasonable initial management strategies EXCEPT: Begin a cholinesterase inhibitor such as donepezil Start donepezil and vitamin E Start sertraline only Provide counseling and refer the family to the Alzheimer’s Association for education and support groups Obtain clarification of the patient’s treatment wishes prior to her incapacitation Click here to compare your answer.
Hospital Physician     JCOM     Seminars in Medical Practice Hospital Physician Board Review Manuals About TWC    Subscribe    Contact TWC    Home    Search   Site Map Copyright © 2009, Turner White Communications Updated 1/04/08 • kkj