What is cognitive impairment in the Elderly?
Cognitive impairment in the elderly is a form of mental impairment that develops through the aging process. Older adults who develop cognitive impairment are likely to struggle with challenges ranging from delirium stemming from sickness/infection to dementia, depression, metabolic issues and even a litany of side effects from medication. Cognitive impairment in the elderly has the potential to end badly for the patient as well as his or her loved ones.
If you suspect your parent or other relative has cognitive impairment, do not hesitate to visit with a medical care provider for a formal diagnosis. It is a mistake to assume you can shoulder the entire burden of senior care on your own. Reach out to a homecare service provider for assistance and you’ll rest easy knowing a helping hand is always available, providing care for the cognitively impaired adult in your life.
Those who care for an aging parent or other loved one should also be aware of the fact that some cognitive issues are not the result of Alzheimer’s disease. Side effects resulting from alterations to the endocrine system, certain medications or even the metabolism itself might be the root cause of the cognitive issues. Though few know it, untreated depression has the potential to manifest in the form of cognitive decline.
It is worth mentioning some senior citizens are plagued by mild cognitive impairment or MCI for short. Those dealing with MCI have more memory issues than others in their age range yet the symptoms don’t make ADLs impossible on one’s own. The bottom line is the older one is, the greater the chance is for the development of Alzheimer’s.
What causes cognitive impairment in the Elderly?
Cognitive impairment in the elderly does not result from one single cause. Nor is there one result from the disorder. MCI symptoms have the potential to stabilize for years, eventually transitioning to Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Though unlikely, there is the potential for cognitive impairment to improve as time progresses.
Medical research indicates that the cause of cognitive impairment results from diminished brain functionality that occur in Alzheimer’s patients or those with other types of dementia. Some such changes have been observed when performing autopsy analyses of patients who were burdened with cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment commonly results from the expansion of the brain’s ventricles, hippocampus shrinkage, strokes that mitigate blood flow and even the accumulation of Lewy body clumps consisting of protein.
Signs of cognitive decline in Elderly
Indications of cognitive decline in senior citizens might not be crystal clear at the outset of the process. However, those subtle symptoms will gradually worsen to the point that the cognitive decline is undeniable. Individuals with mild cognitive impairment suffer from neural pathways failing to encode information and use it for memory formation.
Elderly individuals suffering from decline often struggle to pinpoint the exact word they are looking for. Early cognitive decline in the form of memory loss manifested through insufficient or slow vocabulary recall is a clear sign that the patient will need assistance, potentially in the form of in-home healthcare provided by a professional caregiver.
A senior citizen who no longer obtains enjoyment from his or her hobbies or life in general might suffer from cognitive decline yet that decline won’t be nearly as noticeable as such symptoms aren’t glaringly obvious. It might take the child of a senior weeks, months or even years to realize he or she no longer has an interest in the same hobbies that provided so much joy in previous years. Constant worrying, acting out of character or acting odd when others are present are also signs of cognitive decline that warrant the serious consideration of in-home healthcare service.
How does medicine help to improve cognitive impairment in Elders?
Medicine enhances seniors’ cognitive impairment to a certain degree. The use of the right medicine at the perfect dosage level at specific frequencies has the potential to significantly enhance a senior’s cognition, memory and utility. However, it must be noted that certain medications impair cognition. Those who care for seniors should make a list of all medications the senior currently takes and reveal it to his or her primary care physician before incorporating yet another medication.
Dementia heightens the risk for adverse events resulting from medication use, meaning a comprehensive medication management plan is to be generated before a loved one begins taking a new pill of any sort. The overarching aim of medication for cognitive impairment is to improve mental processes including memory ability and in some cases, patient mood.
How to talk to elderly with cognitive Impairment?
Discussing cognitive impairment with the elderly individual you care for is not easy. A senior saddled by cognitive impairment won’t realize he or she is impaired. Even if the senior understands there is an issue with his or her brain, denial will kick in simply because no one wants to admit that their personal problem is a legitimate problem with the potential to be a burden on others.
Mind the subtleties of your approach to communication. Carefully select your words and be aware of your tone. Position yourself directly in front of the patient when starting the discussion as there is the potential for the conversation to startle them. Furthermore, some of those who suffer from cognitive decline have reduced peripheral vision that makes it difficult to understand another’s intentions unless he or she is directly facing them. Make eye contact, incorporate non-verbal cues to emphasize your point and you’ll maximize the potential for engagement.
How to improve cognitive function in Elderly?
Teachers, pilots, writers, musicians and others with cognitively challenging jobs suffer less mental decline and a slower rate of decline than those who worked jobs that did not require much mental stimulation. In other words, mental exercise is essential to slowing cognitive decline.
Improving a senior’s cognitive function is inherently challenging simply because the decline has already started. The solution for improving senior cognition issues in one patient might not work for the next and so on. However, mental and physical activity combined with social stimulation and even alterations to diet have the potential to mitigate the mental decline.
What is a cognitive test for Elderly?
Cognitive tests for seniors test for problems with cognitive functionality, meaning the manner in which the brain processes information. Such a test requires that the senior answer basic questions. The test is sometimes referred to as a cognitive assessment or screening test.
Elderly Cognitive Assessment
Elderly cognitive assessments analyze patient executive orientation, recall, attention, memory, language and naming. The test results are analyzed by healthcare specialists with experience in fields related to cognitive science, setting the stage for the development of a customized treatment plan.
Restorative activities for Cognitively Impaired Older Adults
Adults with cognitive impairment are encouraged to engage in restorative activities. As an example, something as simple and quick as spending an hour in nature a couple times per week improves cognitive functionality as well as mood. Restorative activities for seniors with cognitive impairment also enhance one’s sense of well-being, create opportunities for socialization and give seniors something to look forward to.