MCQ Quiz: Appropriate Self-Care for Patients with Neurodegenerative Disorders

Living with a neurodegenerative disorder like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Multiple Sclerosis presents daily challenges. While pharmacotherapy is a cornerstone of management, non-pharmacologic self-care strategies are essential for improving quality of life, maintaining function, and ensuring safety. Pharmacists are key educators in this area, counseling both patients and their caregivers on practical, evidence-based approaches. This quiz will test your knowledge on appropriate self-care recommendations for patients with these complex conditions.

1. A caregiver for a person with Alzheimer’s disease asks for advice on managing the patient’s daily routine. What is the best recommendation?

• a. To vary the routine each day to provide mental stimulation.
• b. To establish a structured, consistent daily routine for activities like meals, bathing, and sleep.
• c. To focus only on completing tasks as quickly as possible.
• d. To let the person with Alzheimer’s decide their own schedule each day.

Answer: b. To establish a structured, consistent daily routine for activities like meals, bathing, and sleep.

2. To improve balance and reduce fall risk in a patient with Parkinson’s disease, which type of exercise has been shown to be particularly beneficial?

• a. Heavy weightlifting
• b. High-intensity interval training
• c. Tai Chi or Yoga
• d. Long-distance running

Answer: c. Tai Chi or Yoga

3. A person with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) finds their symptoms, particularly fatigue, worsen in hot weather. A key self-care strategy is:

• a. Drinking hot beverages to acclimate the body.
• b. Taking long, hot baths.
• c. Using cooling vests or neck wraps and avoiding activity during the hottest part of the day.
• d. Increasing sun exposure to boost Vitamin D.

Answer: c. Using cooling vests or neck wraps and avoiding activity during the hottest part of the day.

4. Which of the following is a critical self-care practice for preventing falls in a patient with a neurodegenerative disorder?

• a. Keeping the home dimly lit to promote calmness.
• b. Using small throw rugs throughout the house.
• c. Removing clutter, securing electrical cords, and ensuring good lighting.
• d. Wearing smooth-soled slippers at all times.

Answer: c. Removing clutter, securing electrical cords, and ensuring good lighting.

5. For a patient with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) due to Parkinson’s or advanced Alzheimer’s, what is an important self-care consideration?

• a. Encouraging them to eat quickly.
• b. Modifying food consistency (e.g., pureed foods, thickened liquids) and focusing on proper eating posture.
• c. Providing large meals three times a day.
• d. Allowing them to eat while lying down.

Answer: b. Modifying food consistency (e.g., pureed foods, thickened liquids) and focusing on proper eating posture.

6. A caregiver is feeling overwhelmed and stressed. A pharmacist can provide appropriate self-care advice by recommending:

• a. They focus solely on the patient and ignore their own needs.
• b. They seek out a caregiver support group and ensure they take regular breaks.
• c. They try to manage everything on their own to avoid being a burden.
• d. They stop all of the patient’s hobbies and social activities.

Answer: b. They seek out a caregiver support group and ensure they take regular breaks.

7. A patient with Parkinson’s disease experiences constipation. A first-line self-care recommendation would be:

• a. To start a daily stimulant laxative.
• b. To decrease fluid intake.
• c. To increase dietary fiber and fluid intake.
• d. To take loperamide.

Answer: c. To increase dietary fiber and fluid intake.

8. For a person with Alzheimer’s, what is the best communication strategy when they become confused or agitated?

• a. Argue with them to correct their perception of reality.
• b. Speak loudly and quickly.
• c. Use a calm voice, listen to their concerns, and try to redirect them to a familiar, pleasant activity.
• d. Ask them complex, multi-step questions to test their cognition.

Answer: c. Use a calm voice, listen to their concerns, and try to redirect them to a familiar, pleasant activity.

9. Regular physical activity for patients with neurodegenerative disorders is important because it can:

• a. Improve mood and sleep.
• b. Maintain strength and balance.
• c. Potentially slow cognitive decline.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

10. What is a key self-care strategy for managing the “wearing-off” of levodopa in a Parkinson’s patient?

• a. Taking the dose with a high-protein meal.
• b. Working with a provider or pharmacist to adjust the timing of doses relative to meals.
• c. Taking an extra dose whenever they feel “off.”
• d. Skipping doses to improve sensitivity.

Answer: b. Working with a provider or pharmacist to adjust the timing of doses relative to meals.

11. A caregiver is helping a person with dementia with dressing. Which self-care strategy can help maintain the person’s independence?

• a. Choosing complex outfits with many buttons and zippers.
• b. Laying out clothing in the order it should be put on and using loose-fitting clothes with elastic waistbands.
• c. Rushing them to get dressed as quickly as possible.
• d. Dressing the person completely without their involvement.

Answer: b. Laying out clothing in the order it should be put on and using loose-fitting clothes with elastic waistbands.

12. A pharmacist’s role in the self-care of neurodegenerative disorders includes:

• a. Counseling on non-pharmacologic strategies to manage symptoms like constipation or insomnia.
• b. Recommending assistive devices.
• c. Providing education and resources to caregivers.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

13. A patient with MS experiences fatigue. Which of the following is a good self-care strategy?

• a. Pushing through the fatigue with strenuous activity.
• b. Energy conservation techniques, such as planning activities and taking scheduled rest breaks.
• c. Increasing caffeine intake throughout the day.
• d. Sleeping for more than 12 hours a night.

Answer: b. Energy conservation techniques, such as planning activities and taking scheduled rest breaks.

14. To enhance cognitive health, a person with early-stage Alzheimer’s should be encouraged to:

• a. Avoid all mental challenges to prevent frustration.
• b. Engage in mentally stimulating activities like puzzles, reading, or social interaction.
• c. Watch television all day.
• d. Stop learning new things.

Answer: b. Engage in mentally stimulating activities like puzzles, reading, or social interaction.

15. A patient with Parkinson’s has “facial masking.” A self-care recommendation from a speech therapist might be:

• a. To avoid all social interaction.
• b. To practice facial exercises in front of a mirror.
• c. To speak in a monotone voice.
• d. This cannot be managed with self-care.

Answer: b. To practice facial exercises in front of a mirror.

16. Which dietary pattern is often recommended as being beneficial for overall brain health?

• a. A diet high in processed foods and saturated fats.
• b. A ketogenic diet.
• c. The Mediterranean or DASH diet.
• d. A low-fiber diet.

Answer: c. The Mediterranean or DASH diet.

17. A pharmacist counseling a caregiver of a patient with dementia should emphasize that behavioral changes are often:

• a. The patient being intentionally difficult.
• b. A form of communication or a sign of an unmet need (e.g., pain, hunger, discomfort).
• c. Best managed with high-dose antipsychotics.
• d. A sign that the caregiver is doing a bad job.

Answer: b. A form of communication or a sign of an unmet need (e.g., pain, hunger, discomfort).

18. For a patient with Parkinson’s who has trouble initiating walking (“freezing”), a helpful self-care trick is to:

• a. Close their eyes and focus.
• b. Use a visual cue, like stepping over an imaginary line, or marching to a beat.
• c. Lean backwards to start.
• d. Try to move as quickly as possible.

Answer: b. Use a visual cue, like stepping over an imaginary line, or marching to a beat.

19. Creating a “memory station” with familiar photos and objects in the home of a person with Alzheimer’s is a self-care strategy to:

• a. Test their memory.
• b. Provide comfort and a sense of security.
• c. Increase confusion.
• d. Help them with directions.

Answer: b. Provide comfort and a sense of security.

20. A pharmacist can provide self-care support to a caregiver by:

• a. Simplifying the patient’s medication regimen (e.g., using pill boxes).
• b. Helping to manage medication side effects.
• c. Recommending resources like caregiver support groups.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

21. A patient with MS should be advised that which of the following can trigger a pseudo-exacerbation (worsening of symptoms)?

• a. Cold weather
• b. Heat, fever, or infection
• c. A low-fat diet
• d. Light exercise

Answer: b. Heat, fever, or infection

22. Which of the following is a critical safety-focused self-care strategy for the home of a person with dementia?

• a. Placing locks on cabinets with cleaning supplies.
• b. Setting the water heater to a lower temperature to prevent burns.
• c. Ensuring smoke detectors are working.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

23. The role of the pharmacist is to recommend specific non-pharmacologic therapies like physical therapy or occupational therapy.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: b. False

24. For a patient with a neurodegenerative disorder, “self-care” often involves a partnership between the patient and their:

• a. Pharmacist
• b. Physician
• c. Family and caregivers
• d. Insurance company

Answer: c. Family and caregivers

25. A pharmacist identifying that a patient’s new confusion might be a side effect of a medication rather than a progression of their dementia is an example of:

• a. Overstepping their role.
• b. A crucial patient care intervention.
• c. A diagnosis.
• d. A self-care recommendation.

Answer: b. A crucial patient care intervention.

26. Which of the following is an important self-care strategy for sleep hygiene?

• a. Watching TV in bed until you fall asleep.
• b. Maintaining a regular sleep-wake schedule.
• c. Drinking caffeine in the evening.
• d. Taking long naps during the day.

Answer: b. Maintaining a regular sleep-wake schedule.

27. To manage orthostatic hypotension in a patient with Parkinson’s, a self-care recommendation is to:

• a. Stand up quickly from a sitting position.
• b. Rise slowly and in stages.
• c. Limit salt and fluid intake.
• d. Take a hot bath before getting up.

Answer: b. Rise slowly and in stages.

28. A pharmacist can recommend which of the following for a patient with MS experiencing neuropathic pain, after physician consultation?

• a. Gentle stretching or massage.
• b. Application of heat or cold.
• c. Both a and b.
• d. Neither a nor b.

Answer: c. Both a and b.

29. The ultimate goal of self-care strategies in neurodegenerative disorders is to:

• a. Cure the disease.
• b. Replace all medications.
• c. Maximize function, safety, and quality of life for both the patient and caregiver.
• d. Reduce the workload for healthcare providers.

Answer: c. Maximize function, safety, and quality of life for both the patient and caregiver.

30. Keeping a symptom diary can be a helpful self-care tool for patients with which condition to track triggers and fluctuations?

• a. Parkinson’s disease (“on-off” times)
• b. Multiple Sclerosis (relapses, fatigue)
• c. Alzheimer’s disease (behavioral changes)
• d. All of the above

Answer: d. All of the above

31. A patient with dementia is having trouble with medication adherence. A self-care strategy the pharmacist can recommend to the caregiver is:

• a. Using a pill organizer.
• b. Linking medication times to a daily routine, like meals.
• c. Keeping an updated medication list.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

32. For a patient with dementia who wanders, which of the following is a recommended safety measure?

• a. Locking them in their room.
• b. A medical alert bracelet with contact information.
• c. Not allowing them to go outside.
• d. Encouraging them to explore the neighborhood alone.

Answer: b. A medical alert bracelet with contact information.

33. The pharmacist’s role in self-care is to empower patients and caregivers with knowledge and tools.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

34. Regular social engagement is an important self-care strategy for patients with neurodegenerative disorders because it can:

• a. Improve mood and reduce feelings of isolation.
• b. Provide cognitive stimulation.
• c. Both a and b.
• d. Neither a nor b.

Answer: c. Both a and b.

35. A caregiver for a person with ALS should be educated on self-care techniques related to:

• a. Safe swallowing and nutrition.
• b. Respiratory support.
• c. Mobility and preventing falls.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

36. For a patient with Parkinson’s, speech therapy can provide self-care exercises to manage:

• a. Tremor
• b. Rigidity
• c. Hypophonia (soft speech)
• d. Dyskinesia

Answer: c. Hypophonia (soft speech)

37. Which of the following is a key component of self-care for the caregiver?

• a. Setting realistic expectations.
• b. Asking for help when needed.
• c. Maintaining their own health and hobbies.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

38. The use of weighted utensils can be a helpful self-care adaptation for a patient with:

• a. Alzheimer’s disease memory loss.
• b. MS fatigue.
• c. Parkinson’s disease tremor.
• d. ALS muscle weakness.

Answer: c. Parkinson’s disease tremor.

39. A pharmacist recommending a nutritional supplement like Ensure to a dementia patient with poor appetite is an example of:

• a. Prescribing a medication.
• b. A self-care recommendation to support health.
• c. A violation of their scope of practice.
• d. A treatment for dementia.

Answer: b. A self-care recommendation to support health.

40. The pharmacist should always recommend trying non-pharmacologic and self-care strategies before a patient starts a new medication for a symptom like insomnia.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

41. Which of the following is NOT an appropriate self-care strategy for a person with dementia?

• a. Using simple, one-step instructions.
• b. Providing choices to maintain autonomy (e.g., “Do you want to wear the red shirt or the blue shirt?”).
• c. Quizzing them frequently to test their memory.
• d. Playing familiar music to create a calm environment.

Answer: c. Quizzing them frequently to test their memory.

42. For a patient with MS, self-management of bladder dysfunction might include:

• a. Limiting fluid intake in the evening.
• b. Following a timed voiding schedule.
• c. Both a and b.
• d. Neither a nor b.

Answer: c. Both a and b.

43. A pharmacist’s role in self-care extends beyond medications to include counseling on lifestyle and wellness.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

44. What is the most important self-care advice for a caregiver of someone prone to falls?

• a. To ensure the home environment is free of hazards like throw rugs and clutter.
• b. To encourage the patient to walk without an assistive device.
• c. To keep the home dark at night.
• d. To rearrange the furniture frequently.

Answer: a. To ensure the home environment is free of hazards like throw rugs and clutter.

45. Which of the following is NOT a primary goal of self-care in neurodegenerative disorders?

• a. To enhance safety.
• b. To maintain independence for as long as possible.
• c. To improve quality of life.
• d. To reverse the underlying disease process.

Answer: d. To reverse the underlying disease process.

46. A patient with dementia is having trouble eating. A good self-care strategy for the caregiver is to:

• a. Turn on the television and radio to provide stimulation during meals.
• b. Serve meals in a quiet, distraction-free environment.
• c. Offer many different food choices on the plate at once.
• d. Rush the meal to get it over with.

Answer: b. Serve meals in a quiet, distraction-free environment.

47. For a patient with MS, managing stress through techniques like meditation can be a helpful self-care strategy.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

48. A patient is prescribed levodopa for Parkinson’s disease. A pharmacist provides self-care education by counseling them to:

• a. Take the medication with a large steak for better absorption.
• b. Rise slowly from a sitting or lying position to avoid dizziness.
• c. Stop the medication if they feel better.
• d. Expect the tremor to disappear completely within one day.

Answer: b. Rise slowly from a sitting or lying position to avoid dizziness.

49. The overall management of a neurodegenerative disorder is a partnership between the patient, caregivers, and the entire healthcare team.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

50. The ultimate reason for a pharmacist to be knowledgeable about self-care for these disorders is to:

• a. Provide holistic, patient-centered care that goes beyond the prescription vial to improve safety and quality of life.
• b. Be able to recommend herbal supplements.
• c. Pass a final exam.
• d. Replace the role of a physical therapist.

Answer: a. Provide holistic, patient-centered care that goes beyond the prescription vial to improve safety and quality of life.