Exam 38 · 第38回 · 認知症の理解 (Understanding Dementia)

Question 84 問84

次つぎの記述きじゅつのうち，アルツハイマー型認知症がたにんちしょう（dementia of the Alzheimer’s type）の説明せつめいとして，最もっとも適切てきせつなものを1つ選えらびなさい。

古ふるい記憶きおくから障害しょうがいされ，徐々じょじょに新あたらしい記憶きおくも障害しょうがいされる。
認知機能にんちきのうが変動へんどうすることが特徴的とくちょうてきである。
ＡＤＬ（Activities of Daily Living：日常生活動作にちじょうせいかつどうさ）の障害しょうがいは，重度期以降じゅうどきいこうに認みとめられる。
見当識障害けんとうしきしょうがいは，中期以降ちゅうきいこうに認みとめられる。
記憶障害きおくしょうがいは，初期しょきから認みとめられる。

Translation

Which of the following is the most appropriate description of dementia of the Alzheimer's type (アルツハイマー型認知症)? Choose one.

Old memories are affected first, and new memories are gradually affected too.
A key feature is that cognitive function changes from time to time.
Problems with ADL (Activities of Daily Living) appear only from the severe stage onward.
Disorientation (見当識障害) appears only from the middle stage onward.
Memory disorder (記憶障害) appears from the early stage.

Show answer and explanation

Answer: 5

In dementia of the Alzheimer's type, memory disorder — being unable to remember new things — appears from the early stage. So answer 5 is correct.

Memory is not affected starting with old memories. Recent, new memories are affected first. As the disease progresses, old memories are affected too.

Cognitive function changing from day to day, or hour to hour, is a feature of dementia with Lewy bodies (レビー小体型認知症).

Problems with ADL do not start only in the severe stage. They start appearing from the middle stage.

Disorientation does not start only in the middle stage. It appears from the early stage, usually starting with disorientation to time.

Dementia of the Alzheimer's type shows memory disorder, being unable to remember new things, from the early stage.

アルツハイマー型認知症アルツハイマーがたにんちしょう: A type of dementia where brain nerve cells gradually decrease, often starting with memory disorder.
記憶障害きおくしょうがい: Being unable to remember new things, or unable to recall things you learned.
見当識障害けんとうしきしょうがい: A state of not knowing the time, place, or people around you.

Exams 36–38, all 13 subjects, with furigana and an English explanation of every choice. The subject 「認知症の理解」 is free.