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Cognitive Function Introduction |
Cognitive function
describes a patient's level of
consciousness (sensorium),
alertness, and orientation. Healthcare professionals measure cognitive function with the
mental status examination, or MSE. According
to The Merck Manual of Diagnosis
and Therapy, the MSE evaluates
cognitive function with the
following standardized tests:
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Memory and
Orientation: tests immediate
recall; memory for recent and past
events; digit span; orientation to
time, place, and person
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Concentration: tests serial sevens
(repeat 7 random digits forward and
4 in reverse order); months of the
year in reverse order
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General information:
tests the Presidents, capitals,
distances
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Intelligence: tests
compatibility of school and work
records with current performance;
interpretation of proverbs; general
vocabulary; simple calculations
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Insight and Judgment:
tests with regard to present illness
and future plans
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Psychometric testing may be required
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Impairment in cognitive function can
range in severity from short-term
memory loss, to senility and
dementia. An elderly
person often experiences minor
memory loss, which can result
from normal brain aging.
This should not be confused with
dementia, the most serious
cognitive impairment.
Dementia marked by an often
slow, or gradual process, which
may take months or even years to
become noticeable. |
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Dementia is a disease
involving nerve cell deterioration
and has accompanying symptoms that
are severe enough to interfere with
a person's daily living.
Severe symptoms often include memory
loss with a combined decrease in
cognition and the ability to reason.
Alzheimer's disease is the most
common cause of dementia.
However, not all
cognitive impairments indicate the
presence of Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive impairment can occur at
any age, and can result from many different disease
processes. Other causes of cognitive
impairment include; chronic
inflammation of the cerebral blood
vessels and brain cells, specific nutrient
deficiencies, hormonal imbalances
(especially DHEA, estrogen,
testosterone), impaired circulation
to brain cells (due to
atherosclerosis, heart disease, poor
health habits), essential fatty acid
deficiencies, free radical damage,
prescription drug side effects,
elevated levels of MAO (monoamine
oxidase), neurological disorders,
and lowered levels of
neurotransmitters (such as
acetylcholine).
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Cognitive Function Statistics
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According to the U.S.
National Center for Health
Statistics (1):
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Approximately 231,
900 nursing home residents had
Alzheimer's Disease in 1999
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58, 866 Americans
died of Alzheimer's Disease in
2002
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Cognitive Function Symptoms |
People of all ages
may experience cognitive impairment
such as short term memory loss due
to other health conditions or
problems. Again, elderly
persons may
experience minor memory loss as a
normal part of aging. The symptoms
of dementia are more serious and
manifest, most commonly, within the
elderly population. The symptoms of short
term memory loss include:
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Minor memory problems
such as; difficulty remembering where
objects are located, and forgetting
people's names, addresses, or
telephone numbers.
The symptoms of
dementia (such as Alzheimer's
disease) include:
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Learn More About
Cognitive Function |
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