Rivastigmine

is commonly prescribed for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Convince

a funding panel to support your schizophrenia research.

You are applying for a research

grant to develop a new therapeutic approach for schizophrenia.

In a short written pitch

,

persuade the panel that your project is worth funding by addressing the

following:

• Why is schizophrenia a critical area for

  research investment?

• What gap or limitation in current treatment

  does your project aim to address?

• What potential impact could your research have

  on patients or healthcare?

Write your response as if you are

speaking to a panel of non-specialist reviewers—keep it clear, persuasive, and

focused on real-world relevance.

Atypical antipsychotics are commonly

prescribed to manage schizophrenia.

Explain how these medications work and

why they may be more effective than typical antipsychotics for some patients.

A patient newly diagnosed with

schizophrenia presents with predominantly negative and cognitive symptoms and

is concerned about side effects.

Which class of antipsychotic would you

recommend (typical vs. atypical), and why?

[5

marks, 5 minutes]

You are a clinician explaining

Alzheimer’s disease progression to a patient’s family member.

• Memory

  loss

• Difficulty

  with speech or language

• Confusion

  and personality changes

Your response should explain links between brain region damage (e.g.

hippocampus, cortex), cholinergic deficits, and hallmark pathology (plaques and

tangles).

[8 marks,

10 minutes]

You are

part of a clinical trial team evaluating two experimental Alzheimer’s disease

treatments:

• Drug A:

  A

  monoclonal antibody that targets amyloid-beta oligomers

• Drug B:

  A

  small molecule that inhibits tau hyperphosphorylation

Critically

evaluate which drug is more likely to have a greater impact on improving

cognitive function in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

In your answer:

• Explain the role of amyloid-beta and tau in

  disease progression

• Evaluate the likely effectiveness of targeting

  each in early-stage patients

• Make and justify a recommendation on which

  should progress to Phase III trials

You must read and agree to the academic declaration before you can access the quiz.

Academic integrity and honesty declaration

I am committed to upholding Monash University standards of academic integrity and honesty, and I agree to do the following in this non-invigilated online assessment:

• I will complete this assessment individually, and will NOT participate in any unauthorised collaboration (collusion) when completing this assessment.
• I will not plagiarise the work of others or include work that has been previously submitted as part of another unit/course (plagiarism).
• I will take reasonable steps to safeguard my answers to the assessment and to ensure that other students are unable to copy or misuse my work.
• I will follow all the requirements of Monash University's Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures.
• I will be responsible for the consequences of engaging in plagiarism and collusion as described in Part 7 of the Monash University (Council) Regulations (academic misconduct)

Privacy Statement

Explain the mechanism of action of memantine and indicate why it may be prescribed in Alzheimer’s disease; what is the physiological rationale for use?

Describe the changes in the brain of a patient with Alzheimer’s disease, with regards to cholinergic transmission. Explain the mechanism of action of anticholinesterases and indicate why they may be prescribed in Alzheimer’s disease; what is their physiological rationale for use?

Explain the role of cholinergic transmission in learning and memory.