Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) Practice Exam

Impaired recent memory out of proportion to remote memory is typically characterized by?

1. Vascular dementia

2. Alzheimer's disease

3. Frontotemporal dementia

4. Cognitive decline due to aging

The correct answer is: Alzheimer's disease

Impaired recent memory out of proportion to remote memory is a hallmark characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's, individuals typically retain memories from their distant past while showing significant difficulties with newly acquired information. This pattern of memory impairment reflects the progressive nature of the disease, which primarily affects the hippocampus and related structures essential for forming new memories. In contrast, other conditions such as vascular dementia may involve a more generalized decline in cognitive functions, including memory, without the same specific pattern of recent versus remote memory impairment. Frontotemporal dementia tends to affect personality and behavior more significantly than memory in its earlier stages, and cognitive decline due to aging generally results in a more uniform decline across various cognitive domains, affecting both recent and remote memory rather than disproportionate impairment. Thus, the distinctive feature of recent memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease makes it the most accurate choice.