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04 Aug 2020, 07:01
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Question 1
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
15%
(low)
Question Stats:
79% (03:02) correct
21%
(02:56) wrong
based on 359
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 2
A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
68% (01:29) correct 32%
(01:31) wrong
based on 369
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 3
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
60% (01:07) correct 40%
(01:26) wrong
based on 368
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 4
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
75%
(hard)
Question Stats:
40% (01:16) correct 60%
(01:14) wrong
based on 359
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The relationships between age, cognitive functioning and depression seem to be intricate and dauntingly cryptic. One of the most serious obstacles to accurate assessments of cognitive performance of the elderly lies in the overlap between the symptoms of depression and dementia, a mental disorder characterized by the loss of cognitive function, which has made differential diagnosis of dementia and depression an ongoing (and formidable) challenge. Many of the subjective and vegetative symptoms of depression, such as apathy and sleep disturbances, also occur in individuals in the early stages of dementia. Reciprocally, the symptoms of depression include cognitive difficulties with concentration, decision making, and memory. Because depression can be effectively treated in a variety of ways, accurate differential diagnosis is essential. Antidepressants will generally improve the cognitive dysfunction associated with depression but will have minimal effect on organic degeneration.
Accurate diagnosis is most elusive in the early stages of depression and dementia. The traditional methods of delineating between the two have relied on symptoms, psychiatric history, family history of depression, rate of onset, and response to treatment. Decreased appetite is a common symptom of depression, but many Alzheimer’s patients actually report increased eating in the early stages of the disorder. Olfactory problems are frequent in neurodegenerative disorders, but depressed individuals almost never exhibit a decreased sense of smell. Interestingly, the time between onset of symptoms and seeking of treatment may also provide a clue: research has shown that the median duration of cognitive problems before treatment is approximately five years for demented individuals but a scant two months for depressed elderly. This may be reflective of the protracted degeneration of dementia.A considerable amount of research has been devoted to differences in how depressed and demented elderly respond to cognitive testing. In memory tasks, depressed patients have exhibited a tendency towards a conservative response bias and reluctance to guess. Conversely, dementia patients are far more likely to venture an answer even when they are unsure of its accuracy. Typically, elderly depressed subjects perform at a level between that of normal controls and dementia subjects on cognitive test batteries. This suggests that both depression and dementia exacerbate the cognitive declines associated with normal aging and that the difference is one of degree.
Accurate diagnosis is most elusive in the early stages of depression and dementia. The traditional methods of delineating between the two have relied on symptoms, psychiatric history, family history of depression, rate of onset, and response to treatment. Decreased appetite is a common symptom of depression, but many Alzheimer’s patients actually report increased eating in the early stages of the disorder. Olfactory problems are frequent in neurodegenerative disorders, but depressed individuals almost never exhibit a decreased sense of smell. Interestingly, the time between onset of symptoms and seeking of treatment may also provide a clue: research has shown that the median duration of cognitive problems before treatment is approximately five years for demented individuals but a scant two months for depressed elderly. This may be reflective of the protracted degeneration of dementia.A considerable amount of research has been devoted to differences in how depressed and demented elderly respond to cognitive testing. In memory tasks, depressed patients have exhibited a tendency towards a conservative response bias and reluctance to guess. Conversely, dementia patients are far more likely to venture an answer even when they are unsure of its accuracy. Typically, elderly depressed subjects perform at a level between that of normal controls and dementia subjects on cognitive test batteries. This suggests that both depression and dementia exacerbate the cognitive declines associated with normal aging and that the difference is one of degree.
B
(A) discuss problems that arise from a failure to distinguish between depression and dementia
(B) explicate the difficulties in differentiating between dementia and depression in the elderly
(C) contrast the efficacy of cognitive testing with other diagnostic methods
(D) lobby for funding for research into more effective methods of cognitive assessments
(E) describe the cognitive performance of normal, depressed, and demented elderly
A
I. Similar symptoms are manifest in the early stages of both disorders
II. People with dementia have an increased vulnerability to depression
III. Dementia and depression have the same, underlying organic cause.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II
(E) II and III
C
(A) To bolster his assertion that the symptoms of depression and dementia overlap
(B) To demonstrate that dementia has an underlying, organic genesis while depression does not
(C) To provide a concrete example of a distinguishing symptom of dementia
(D) To illustrate the breadth of symptoms associated with neurodegenerative disorders
(E) To cite an example of sensory impairment common in the elderly
B
(A) sensory functioning
(B) less than normal performance on cognitive tests
(C) willingness to guess during cognitive testing
(D) duration of tolerance for symptoms
(E) response to antidepressant medication
RC Butler 2021 - Practice Two RC Questions Everyday.
Passage # 182 Date: 07-May-2021
This question is a part of RC Butler 2021. Click here for Details
Passage # 182 Date: 07-May-2021
This question is a part of RC Butler 2021. Click here for Details
KeyurJoshi
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
Posts: 141
25 Nov 2020, 02:40
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The author’s primary purpose is to:
(A) discuss problems that arise from a failure to distinguish between depression and dementia - problems arising from it are irrelevant.
(B) explicate the difficulties in differentiating between dementia and depression in the elderly - correct. (Explicate = Analyse)
(C) contrast the efficacy of cognitive testing with other diagnostic methods - other methods irrelevant.
(D) lobby for funding for research into more effective methods of cognitive assessments - out of scope
(E) describe the cognitive performance of normal, depressed, and demented elderly - not a concern
Which of the following are cited by the passage as reasons why it is difficult to differentiate between dementia and depression?
I. Similar symptoms are manifest in the early stages of both disorders - "Many of the subjective and vegetative symptoms of depression, such as apathy and sleep disturbances, also occur in individuals in the early stages of dementia."
II. People with dementia have an increased vulnerability to depression - Not mentioned
III. Dementia and depression have the same, underlying organic cause. - Not mentioned
Why does the author discuss olfactory impairment in the second paragraph?
"Olfactory problems are frequent in neurodegenerative disorders, but depressed individuals almost never exhibit a decreased sense of smell."
(A) To bolster his assertion that the symptoms of depression and dementia overlap - Author cites it to show differences between them
(B) To demonstrate that dementia has an underlying, organic genesis while depression does not - irrelevant.
(C) To provide a concrete example of a distinguishing symptom of dementia - Correct. Shows why dementia is different than depression
(D) To illustrate the breadth of symptoms associated with neurodegenerative disorders - irrelevant
(E) To cite an example of sensory impairment common in the elderly - irrelevant
According to the passage, all of the following are ways to distinguish between depression and dementia in the elderly EXCEPT:
(A) sensory functioning - "Olfactory problems are frequent in neurodegenerative disorders, but depressed individuals almost never exhibit a decreased sense of smell"
(B) less than normal performance on cognitive tests - Not mentioned
(C) willingness to guess during cognitive testing - "In memory tasks, depressed patients have exhibited a tendency towards a conservative response bias and reluctance to guess. Conversely, dementia patients are far more likely to venture an answer even when they are unsure of its accuracy."
(D) duration of tolerance for symptoms - "the time between onset of symptoms and seeking of treatment may also provide a clue"
(E) response to antidepressant medication - "Antidepressants will generally improve the cognitive dysfunction associated with depression but will have minimal effect on organic degeneration."
(A) discuss problems that arise from a failure to distinguish between depression and dementia - problems arising from it are irrelevant.
(B) explicate the difficulties in differentiating between dementia and depression in the elderly - correct. (Explicate = Analyse)
(C) contrast the efficacy of cognitive testing with other diagnostic methods - other methods irrelevant.
(D) lobby for funding for research into more effective methods of cognitive assessments - out of scope
(E) describe the cognitive performance of normal, depressed, and demented elderly - not a concern
Which of the following are cited by the passage as reasons why it is difficult to differentiate between dementia and depression?
I. Similar symptoms are manifest in the early stages of both disorders - "Many of the subjective and vegetative symptoms of depression, such as apathy and sleep disturbances, also occur in individuals in the early stages of dementia."
II. People with dementia have an increased vulnerability to depression - Not mentioned
III. Dementia and depression have the same, underlying organic cause. - Not mentioned
Why does the author discuss olfactory impairment in the second paragraph?
"Olfactory problems are frequent in neurodegenerative disorders, but depressed individuals almost never exhibit a decreased sense of smell."
(A) To bolster his assertion that the symptoms of depression and dementia overlap - Author cites it to show differences between them
(B) To demonstrate that dementia has an underlying, organic genesis while depression does not - irrelevant.
(C) To provide a concrete example of a distinguishing symptom of dementia - Correct. Shows why dementia is different than depression
(D) To illustrate the breadth of symptoms associated with neurodegenerative disorders - irrelevant
(E) To cite an example of sensory impairment common in the elderly - irrelevant
According to the passage, all of the following are ways to distinguish between depression and dementia in the elderly EXCEPT:
(A) sensory functioning - "Olfactory problems are frequent in neurodegenerative disorders, but depressed individuals almost never exhibit a decreased sense of smell"
(B) less than normal performance on cognitive tests - Not mentioned
(C) willingness to guess during cognitive testing - "In memory tasks, depressed patients have exhibited a tendency towards a conservative response bias and reluctance to guess. Conversely, dementia patients are far more likely to venture an answer even when they are unsure of its accuracy."
(D) duration of tolerance for symptoms - "the time between onset of symptoms and seeking of treatment may also provide a clue"
(E) response to antidepressant medication - "Antidepressants will generally improve the cognitive dysfunction associated with depression but will have minimal effect on organic degeneration."
General Discussion
bM22
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09 Aug 2020, 09:30
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VitaNuova
Hi VitaNuova,
I'll give it a try, breaking down this passage. Let me know if this helps.
Main Purpose: Analyse the differences between depression and dementia in the elderly.
P1: Differentiating between depression and dementia becomes difficult in the elderly as the symptoms overlap. The author then discusses the different symptoms that are found in both depression and dementia.
P2: 2nd para mostly focuses on how the traditional methods rely on the symptoms to separate the two conditions and that a lot of research has been done to find out the differences in how depressed and demented elderly respond to cognitive testing.
Thanks.
