Brain Health: The Importance of Recognizing Cognitive Impairment: An IAGG Consensus Conference

Abstract

Cognitive impairment creates significant challenges for patients, their families and friends, and clinicians who provide their health care. Early recognition allows for diagnosis and appropriate treatment, education, psychosocial support, and engagement in shared decision-making regarding life planning, health care, involvement in research, and financial matters. An IAGG-GARN consensus panel examined the importance of early recognition of impaired cognitive health. Their major conclusion was that case-finding by physicians and health professionals is an important step toward enhancing brain health for aging populations throughout the world. This conclusion is in keeping with the position of the United States’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that reimburses for detection of cognitive impairment as part the of Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and with the international call for early detection of cognitive impairment as a patient’s right. The panel agreed on the following specific findings: (1) validated screening tests are available that take 3 to 7 minutes to administer; (2) a combination of patient- and informant-based screens is the most appropriate approach for identifying early cognitive impairment; (3) early cognitive impairment may have treatable components; and (4) emerging data support a combination of medical and lifestyle interventions as a potential way to delay or reduce cognitive decline.

High prevalence of dementia among community dwelling older adults in receipt of state funded home care packages: implications for health care planning

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Protective factors against cognitive decline among community‐dwelling middle‐aged and older people in Taiwan: A 6‐year national population‐based study

“…Cognitive function refers to the mental abilities of learning, memory, attention, problem‐solving and appropriate use of stored information, and is of crucial importance for successful aging . Despite a declining trend in the age‐specific incidence of dementia in Western countries, the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia continue to grow along with the increase of life expectancy, as well as the associated burden in financial and social domains to the healthcare system .…”

Imaging and neuropsychological correlates of white matter lesions in different subtypes of Mild Cognitive Impairment: A systematic review

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