The nurse has been teaching the caregiver about Aricept. The nurse knows teaching has been effective by which of the following statements?

Choice A reason: Reminding a dementia patient of forgotten information supports memory function and reduces frustration. Dementia involves progressive neuronal loss, impairing short-term memory due to hippocampal and cortical damage. Gentle reminders align with cognitive support strategies, maintaining patient comfort without overwhelming their limited cognitive capacity, making this approach appropriate.

Choice B reason: Engaging in favorite activities leverages preserved long-term memory in dementia, as the disease primarily affects short-term memory and executive function due to amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Familiar tasks reduce agitation and promote well-being, as they align with the patient’s cognitive abilities, making this a scientifically sound caregiving strategy.

Choice C reason: Introducing new and different activities daily is inappropriate, as dementia patients struggle with learning and adapting due to impaired neuroplasticity and hippocampal dysfunction. Novel tasks can cause confusion and agitation, as they overwhelm cognitive reserves. Familiar routines are more effective, requiring intervention to educate the caregiver on maintaining consistency.

Choice D reason: Encouraging discussion about friends and family taps into preserved long-term memory in early dementia, as the disease initially spares autobiographical memory. Social engagement supports emotional well-being and cognitive stimulation, reducing isolation. This approach is scientifically appropriate, as it aligns with the patient’s cognitive strengths and promotes quality of life.

Choice A reason: Expecting dementia clients to consistently ask for needed items is incorrect, as short-term memory loss from hippocampal degeneration impairs their ability to articulate needs. Cognitive deterioration disrupts executive function and communication, making this assumption inaccurate and reflecting a misunderstanding of dementia’s neurobiological impact on memory and expression.

Choice B reason: Assuming ambulatory dementia clients can independently perform activities of daily living is incorrect. Dementia’s progressive neuronal loss, particularly in the cortex and hippocampus, impairs planning and execution of tasks like dressing or hygiene, despite physical mobility. This reflects a misunderstanding of cognitive versus motor function in dementia’s pathology.

Choice C reason: Expecting dementia clients to know meal times is incorrect, as temporal disorientation from hippocampal and prefrontal cortex damage impairs memory and time perception. Cognitive deterioration disrupts routine recall, making this assumption inaccurate. It fails to recognize the neurobiological basis of memory deficits central to dementia’s progression.

Choice D reason: Not recognizing family is a common dementia symptom, as long-term memory impairment from cortical and hippocampal neurodegeneration disrupts autobiographical memory. This reflects accurate understanding of dementia’s progressive impact on memory systems, where familiar faces become unrecognizable, aligning with the disease’s neurobiological effects on recognition and recall.