Neurology: Alzheimer disease treatment: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

General Medicine · Neurology: Alzheimer disease treatment

Sample item

Which statement about Alzheimer disease is correct?

ACholinesterase inhibitors and memantine give symptomatic benefit; pathology shows amyloid plaques and tau tanglesBDisease-modifying cure existsCLevodopa is first-lineDPathology shows Lewy bodies

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine give symptomatic benefit; pathology shows amyloid plaques and tau tangles

Donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine inhibit acetylcholinesterase, and memantine is an NMDA antagonist used in moderate to severe disease. Pathology shows extracellular amyloid beta plaques and intraneuronal tau neurofibrillary tangles. Anti-amyloid antibodies show only modest slowing in early disease.

Option by option

A. Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine give symptomatic benefit; pathology shows amyloid plaques and tau tangles (correct)
Correct. This summarises treatment and pathology.
B. Disease-modifying cure exists
No curative treatment exists.
C. Levodopa is first-line
Levodopa treats Parkinson disease.
D. Pathology shows Lewy bodies
Lewy bodies characterise Lewy body dementia.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine give symptomatic benefit; pathology shows amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine inhibit acetylcholinesterase, and memantine is an NMDA antagonist used in moderate to severe disease.

Why is "Disease-modifying cure exists" not the answer?

No curative treatment exists.

Why is "Levodopa is first-line" not the answer?

Levodopa treats Parkinson disease.

Why is "Pathology shows Lewy bodies" not the answer?

Lewy bodies characterise Lewy body dementia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neurology: Alzheimer disease treatment in General Medicine. Pathology shows extracellular amyloid beta plaques and intraneuronal tau neurofibrillary tangles. Anti-amyloid antibodies show only modest slowing in early disease.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Neurology: Alzheimer disease treatment?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.