Which pathophysiological process best describes Alzheimer's disease?
Abnormal tau proteins that damage the frontal lobe.
Blood vessels become damaged in the brain and interrupt blood flow.
Repeated traumatic brain injuries causing encephalopathy.
Amyloid plaques and tau tangles that damage the hippocampus.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Abnormal tau proteins contribute to Alzheimer’s, forming neurofibrillary tangles, but damage is not limited to the frontal lobe. The hippocampus and other regions are primarily affected, leading to memory loss. This choice is too specific and incomplete, making it incorrect.
Choice B reason: Damaged blood vessels interrupting brain blood flow describe vascular dementia, not Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s involves neuronal degeneration from protein accumulation, not primarily vascular pathology, although vascular factors may contribute, making this choice incorrect for Alzheimer’s pathophysiology.
Choice C reason: Repeated traumatic brain injuries cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy, not Alzheimer’s. While trauma may increase Alzheimer’s risk, the primary pathology involves amyloid and tau proteins, not trauma-induced encephalopathy, making this choice incorrect for the disease’s core pathophysiology.
Choice D reason: Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein tangles, which disrupt neuronal function, particularly in the hippocampus, leading to memory impairment. These protein aggregates cause synaptic loss and neurodegeneration, accurately describing the disease’s pathophysiology, making this the correct choice.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C"]
Explanation
Choice A reason: Cortisol, a stress hormone, suppresses immune and inflammatory responses, slowing fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis, which impairs wound healing. This anti-inflammatory effect prioritizes energy allocation to stress response over tissue repair, making decreased wound healing a correct effect of cortisol during stress.
Choice B reason: Cortisol stimulates gastric acid secretion by enhancing gastrin release and reducing mucosal protection, increasing the risk of ulcers. This effect supports energy mobilization during stress by promoting digestion but can lead to gastrointestinal complications, making increased gastric acid secretion a correct effect.
Choice C reason: Cortisol promotes gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in the liver, elevating blood glucose levels to provide energy for the stress response. It also induces insulin resistance, ensuring glucose availability for critical tissues like the brain, making increased blood glucose a correct effect of cortisol.
Choice D reason: Cortisol suppresses the immune response by inhibiting cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation, reducing inflammation and immune activity. This does not align with increased immune response, as cortisol’s immunosuppressive effects are well-documented, making this choice incorrect for the stress response.
Choice E reason: Cortisol increases blood pressure via mineralocorticoid effects, enhancing sodium retention and vascular tone. This supports cardiovascular stability during stress, not decreased blood pressure, which would be counterproductive in a fight-or-flight response, making this choice incorrect for cortisol’s effects.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Thyrotoxic crisis (thyroid storm) is a life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism, where excessive thyroid hormone release causes severe metabolic and cardiovascular symptoms. Triggers like infection or stress exacerbate thyroid activity, making this the correct disorder associated with thyrotoxic crisis.
Choice B reason: Hypothyroidism involves deficient thyroid hormone production, causing slowed metabolism, not thyrotoxic crisis, which requires excessive hormone levels. Low thyroid activity cannot lead to the hypermetabolic state of thyroid storm, making this choice incorrect.
Choice C reason: Addison’s disease involves adrenal insufficiency, reducing cortisol and aldosterone, unrelated to thyroid function. Thyrotoxic crisis stems from thyroid hormone excess, not adrenal issues, making this choice incorrect for the described complication.
Choice D reason: Diabetes mellitus affects glucose metabolism, not thyroid function. Thyrotoxic crisis is driven by thyroid hormone excess, causing metabolic and cardiovascular instability, not related to insulin or glucose dysregulation, making this choice incorrect.
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