Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) Practice Test

What is the likely assessment finding during the later stages of Alzheimer's disease?

1. Deficits in new learning with mildly impaired remote memory

2. Severe impairments in recent and remote memory, and fluent aphasia

3. Severe impairments in memory and executive functioning

4. Severely disturbed intellectual functioning

The correct answer is: Severe impairments in recent and remote memory, and fluent aphasia

In the later stages of Alzheimer's disease, individuals typically experience severe impairments in both recent and remote memory, along with fluent aphasia. At this stage, patients often struggle to retain new information and have significant difficulties recalling past events, which reflects the progression of memory deficits characteristic of the disease. Fluent aphasia, characterized by the ability to produce speech with normal grammar and syntax but with little meaningful content, can also manifest as the individual loses the ability to understand or find the right words. This reflects a deterioration in language abilities which is commonly observed in advanced Alzheimer's. While deficits in new learning and mildly impaired remote memory, severe impairments in memory and executive functioning, and severely disturbed intellectual functioning may occur at various stages of Alzheimer's, they do not encapsulate the full cognitive profile typically observed at the later stages of the disease. In these later stages, the most pronounced symptoms prominently feature severe memory loss and language difficulties, aligning with the assessment findings described.