Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam

What test evaluates areas that are ischemic or dysfunctional as a result of conditions like dementia?

1. PET Scan

2. CT Scan

3. EEG

4. MRI

The correct answer is: CT Scan

The test that effectively evaluates areas that are ischemic or dysfunctional due to conditions like dementia is the PET scan. This imaging technique uses radiotracers to assess metabolic activity in the brain, allowing for the identification of regions with reduced blood flow and varying levels of dysfunction that are often associated with neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia. PET scans can show how the brain is functioning, which is particularly helpful in diagnosing different types of dementia and distinguishing them from other conditions. While CT scans provide detailed images of brain structure and can identify some abnormalities, they do not assess metabolic activity in the same way as a PET scan. EEGs measure electrical activity in the brain and are more suited for conditions like epilepsy rather than for assessing ischemic areas in dementia. MRIs provide excellent soft tissue contrast and can reveal structural changes but also lack the functional insights that PET scans offer for this specific scenario involving ischemic or dysfunctional areas due to dementia.