Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

Which statement accurately describes dementia?

1. It is a temporary condition that resolves with treatment

2. It includes consistent memory improvement

3. It disrupts social and occupational functioning

4. It primarily affects cognitive skills related only to memory

The correct answer is: It disrupts social and occupational functioning

Dementia is characterized as a chronic and progressive condition that significantly disrupts a person’s ability to perform daily activities and maintain social relationships, which directly encompasses social and occupational functioning. This cognitive decline can manifest in various ways, including impaired reasoning, judgment, language, and the ability to recognize familiar faces or places. The nature of dementia means that it leads to a decline in cognitive function that affects multiple aspects of life, not limited to memory alone. Individuals may find it increasingly difficult to perform job duties, engage with friends and family, or manage daily tasks, underscoring the accurate portrayal of its impact on social and occupational spheres. Recognizing that dementia entails more than just memory issues is crucial, as it affects various cognitive skills, including perception, language processing, and executive functions, thus contributing to the overall disruption in functioning that is a hallmark of the condition.