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

“…Recently the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics Congress issued a guideline for early diagnosis of cognitive impairment (Morley et al, 2015), suggesting that an inclusion of WML investigation as part of the screening for early diagnosis of cognitive impairment. However, reviews focusing on WML in subtypes of MCI are scarce.…”

The Brain Health Assessment for Detecting and Diagnosing Neurocognitive Disorders

“…Early, accurate diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders benefits individuals with the disorders and their families and is recommended as part of high‐quality health care . A diagnosis prompts an evaluation for reversible causes, guides the selection of appropriate symptomatic treatments, allows individuals and families to access supportive interventions and focuses plans for future care needs.…”