Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

In Alzheimer's disease, which area of the brain is often associated with memory dysfunction?

1. The frontal lobe

2. The parietal lobe

3. The occipital lobe

4. The temporal lobe, specifically the hippocampus

The correct answer is: The temporal lobe, specifically the hippocampus

In Alzheimer's disease, the area of the brain that is most commonly associated with memory dysfunction is the temporal lobe, specifically the hippocampus. The hippocampus is crucial for the formation and retrieval of memories, and its degeneration is one of the hallmark features of Alzheimer's. As the disease progresses, the impact on the hippocampus leads to difficulties in learning new information and recalling past experiences, which are characteristic symptoms of memory loss seen in individuals with Alzheimer's. While other regions such as the frontal lobe may be involved in aspects of memory, such as executive function and attention, and the parietal lobe affects sensory integration and spatial orientation, these areas are not as directly linked to the primary memory dysfunction observed in Alzheimer's disease. The occipital lobe, primarily responsible for vision, is least involved in memory processes. Thus, the temporal lobe and specifically the hippocampus are the key regions affected in the context of Alzheimer’s-related memory impairment.