CD857 Class 5 Review

Which assessment tool would be most suitable for evaluating episodic memory and expressive language in the moderate stage of Alzheimer's Disease?

• Functional Linguistic Communication Inventory (FLCI)

• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

• RBANS Immediate and Delayed Recall subtests

• Boston Naming Test (BNT)

Answer explanation

The RBANS (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status) includes immediate and delayed recall subtests that specifically measure episodic memory, making it particularly well-suited for detecting memory-related decline in this stage.

During an evaluation, Mr. S frequently pauses in his speech, often using vague phrases like “that thing you wear on your head” instead of saying "hat." He is able to speak fluently and with correct grammar but struggles to find specific words and often uses vague, general language. Fluent speech with circumlocution, vague word use, and increasingly empty language are most consistent with what variant of PPA?

• PPAOS

• Semantic Variant PPA

• Logopenic Variant PPA

• Nonfluent/Agrammatic Variant PPA

Answer explanation

Patients with semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) often present with fluent but circumlocutory speech, using general or vague terms when they cannot retrieve specific words. They experience frequent word-finding pauses and often describe objects indirectly.

What is the primary purpose of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale in dementia assessment?

• To measure language deficits only

• To characterize cognitive and functional performance across several domains in dementia

• To exclusively stage Alzheimer’s Disease by age-related cognitive decline

• To assess only memory impairment in patients with dementia

Answer explanation

The CDR scale is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of cognitive and functional performance across multiple domains affected by dementia, including memory, orientation, judgment, community affairs, home and hobbies, and personal care

Which of the following describes why the Northwestern Assessment of Verbs and Sentences subtest is particularly useful in assessing patients with nonfluent/agrammatic primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA)?

• It assesses the patient's ability to recall personal events and episodic memory

• It evaluates syntactic comprehension, especially with complex, non-canonical sentence structures.

• It measures verbal fluency and word retrieval skills in social conversations.

• It focuses on non-verbal reasoning and spatial orientation.

Answer explanation

Patients with nfvPPA often struggle with complex syntactic processing, which is a core feature of the disorder.

In dementia care, what is the primary role of a cognitive screener like the MoCA?

• To provide a detailed diagnosis of specific dementia types

• To offer a general snapshot of cognitive function and identify if further assessment is necessary

• To create a comprehensive treatment plan based on specific cognitive deficits

• To evaluate the effectiveness of long-term interventions in advanced dementia stages

Answer explanation

Cognitive screeners are brief, preliminary tools used to quickly assess overall cognitive function, providing a general overview rather than a detailed diagnosis. This snapshot helps determine if a more comprehensive evaluation is warranted to understand specific cognitive deficits or to pursue a formal dementia diagnosis.

The _______ _____ _____ is commonly used to help differentiate vascular dementia (VaD) from Alzheimer's Disease (AD) by assessing risk factors and clinical features indicative of vascular involvement.

• Arizona Battery for Communication Disorders of Dementia 2^nd Edition

• Blessed Dementia Scale

• Hachinski Ischemia Index

• Dementia Rating Scale 2^nd Edition

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