Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) Practice Exam

Patients with which condition have a predisposition to generalized seizures?

1. Stage 1 Alzheimer's disease

2. Stage 2 Alzheimer's disease

3. Stage 3 Alzheimer's disease

4. Parkinson's disease

The correct answer is: Stage 3 Alzheimer's disease

Patients with Stage 3 Alzheimer's disease are indeed at a higher risk for generalized seizures. This stage is characterized by significant cognitive decline and increased neurodegeneration, which can lead to various neurological complications, including seizure activity. The pathological changes, such as the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques, along with the disruption of normal neuronal function, create an environment prone to excitability in the brain. This heightened neuronal excitability can result in the manifestation of generalized seizures. In contrast, while Alzheimer's disease can pose risks for seizures in its earlier stages, as the disease progresses and the brain undergoes more profound changes, the likelihood of experiencing seizures tends to increase. Parkinson's disease can also present with seizure activity, but it does not have the same strong predisposition for generalized seizures as seen in advanced Alzheimer's disease. Thus, recognizing the stage of Alzheimer's disease is crucial for understanding the risk of seizure development.