Cognitive Health In The Aging Population

Cognitive aging is the term to describe changes in cognition with age. While Salthouse (2004) found that with cognitive aging comes cognitive decline regardless of the individual, Hayden and partners (2011) found that most (65%) elderly persons showed slow decline that does not substantially affect abilities, 27% experienced moderate decline, and only 8% showed substantial cognitive decline. These new findings show that in fact there may be individual variability when it comes to cognitive aging. One factor shown to affect cognitive aging is race (Glymour and Manly, 2008). Thus, in this paper we will review and analyze findings pertaining to cognitive aging as related by race to better understand this relationship and will also discuss suggestions for future research.

Dementia is a condition resulting from obtained brain disease and distinguished by progressive decay in memory and other cognitive fields such as judgment, abstract thinking, language, and executive functioning. This disease is usually caused by degeneration in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for thoughts, memories, actions, and personality. Death of brain cells in this area leads to the impairments that distinguish dementia. Though the cognitive outline of single diagnosed with dementia vary somewhat by etiology, the degree of deterioration stands for a decrease from previous levels of cognitive functioning and is enough to impede with social and occupational functioning. This downfall is beyond what might be expected from normal aging in a person. It can cause impairment with everyday activities such as dressing, feeding, and bathing.

Are nursing homes associated with the acceleration of cognitive decline? The relevance of this question is that there are numerous families that are concerned about their loved one 's health when they are placed into a nursing home. First, what are some of the reasons for families to place their loved one’s into a nursing home? Second, what is Alzheimer’s and Dementia? Third, what are the reasons for the decline in residents cognitive behaviors? Finally, how can we help change the acceleration of cognitive decline? Nursing homes are suppose to be helping the residents maintain their health as long as they can but are they helping the residents? If nursing homes are more suitable for the well being of the suffering loved one, then

Patient X is in a long-term care facility and she is diagnosed of Dementia, Anaemia, Glaucoma, Congestive Heart Failure, and Benign Hypertension. She is oriented times one, only to person. Her current MMSE score is 20 out of 30. According to the article, “The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)”, “The MMSE is effective as a screening tool for cognitive impairment with older. A score of 23 or lower is indicative of cognitive impairment.” She requires one-person assistance with hygiene care including bathing, toileting, changing briefs and oral care. It is important to maintain a good oral hygiene in order to prevent gum disease and cavities from forming. She was assessed for the oral hygiene because she is unable to meet

Agitation is often managed with the use of medications or restraints. The implementation of these methods can cause both psychological and physiological problems. Medications given to a person with brain damage can lead to unpredictable responses. It has been found that specifically, Benzodiazepine medications, which often result in sedation or relaxation can cause agitation, insomnia or aggression in those patients with Dementia. The treatment then for these behaviors is usually more sedative drugs; thus continuing a vicious cycle of unresolved behavior. Other side effects common in sedatives are confusion, disorientation, and blurred vision; resulting in safety concerns for the individual. Improvement in communication and modification in

Oken, B. S., Fonareva, I., & Wahbeh, H. (2011). Stress-related cognitive dysfunction in dementia caregivers. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 24(4), 191-198. doi:10.1177/0891988711422524

“Since the beginning of time (or close),” Edmundson, an English professor at Virginia University notes, “men and women have sought immortality. They have looked to live as the gods do: eternally and in bliss.” People are living longer than ever before, but it’s proven to not be enough. Annually, millions of people buy supplements promising longevity, but whether it’s the fear of death or simply a diet plan, people are doubling and even tripling the ages of those who lived during the 19th century. One primary cause of the trend stems from the kryptonite of every human being: fear. Although fear is in every aspect of life, the quest for longevity is prolonged by medical advancements, lifestyle changes, and sex.

Mild cognitive impairment is rapidly becoming one of the most common clinical manifestations affecting the elderly. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the development of cognitive impairment in the elderly. A crosssectional study was conducted. Study independent variables such as age, gender, education level, daily sleep duration, and consumption of drugs were collected and two screening tests were used to detect the presence of cognitive impairment. It was observed that sleeping for more than 9 daily hours, the consumption of benzodiazepines, older age, female gender, and illiteracy were risk factors for cognitive

Aging and genetics play a role in developing a cognitive disease known as Alzheimer’s, but why do some people get it and some don’t? According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease today. Research shows that by 2050 there could be as many as 14 million people with the disease. About 350,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s are diagnosed every year in the US. It is the 4th leading cause of death in adults after heart disease, stroke, and cancer, and approximately 65,800 people die from the disease each year. “Alzheimer’s Facts & Statistics." Brightfocus.org. What is Alzheimer’s disease (AD) anyway? Alzheimer’s is a condition where the brain cells start to die, and the brain even shrinks. Mainly people age 60 and over develop the disease. AD affects areas of the brain that are used for memory, motor skills, and carrying out everyday tasks. AD and Vascular dementia are the most common forms of dementia. Dementia is the decline in cognitive function or mental stability. Dementia can be caused by a hardening of the blood cells in the brain that causes blockage in blood flow. The disease can also be caused by infections, brain injuries or tumors, depression, nutritional deficiencies, drug interactions, or metabolic disorders of the thyroid, liver, pancreas, or kidneys. It can also be caused by other progressive diseases like Parkinson’s, Pick’s, Huntington’s, or Lewy-body. In other words, it affects the brain making it

The brain ages just as our body ages; its ability to function and physical appearance change over time. Physical changes to the brain often include shrinking and death of neurons, decrease in neurotransmitter synthesis and signaling, and decrease in cortical thickness. The hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and thalamus experience the most significant variances in the aging brain. These three regions can account for up 25-100% of the cognitive variance seen when comparing aged and younger individuals. Additionally, the brain can have losses of up to 50% of myelinated

Cognitive aging is commonly labeled strictly as memory and only found in “some people”. However, this is not true. The knowledge of cognitive aging has grown immensely, but there is still much to be learned. The surface has only been scratched with many more questions to be answered. Cognitive aging is worthy of study and effects everyone, but there is also much more is still to be learned.

Cognitive disorders involve problems in memory, orientation, level of consciousness, and other cognitive functions (Huang et al., 2015) . These difficulties are due to abnormalities in neural chemistry, structure or physiology originating in the brain or secondary to systemic illness (Huang et al.). Patients with cognitive disorders may show psychiatric symptoms secondary to the cognitive problems, such as depression, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations and delusions and impaired motor function(Huang et al.). One of the major cognitive disorders is dementia, which results from impaired cognition, due to damage to the brain. Dementia is an umbrella that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory and other cognitive

Since ancient times there has always been a debate in the field of philosophy of whether individuals continue to live after death. Although many religions believe in the concept of “immortality”. I believe that immortality could exist, because of cloning, cryonics, and Calorie Restriction. For hundreds of years people have been attempting to preserve and prolong life, and essentially become immortal. There are many new technologies in this time of scientific exploration and advancement that claim to do these things. There are many methods that are currently being studied as ways to either prolong life or to become immortal. All of these aspects take a different approach to man’s constant search for immortality. Immortality has primarily been

Most nursing home residents have cognitive and physical impairment. Such patients admit that they do not want to burden their family and do not want their families to see their aging. Family also cannot take care of their mother/father all day. As people get older, their cognitive functions decrease in comparison to other age people. Even though their cognitive function is not normal, they can feel that they are in pain but forget to ask or do not know how to reduce the pain. Cognitive impairment residents think that pain is normal symptoms. Even though elderly residents have healthy cognitive function, they need to wait longer to get pain medication until nurses have times. This means that cognitively impaired elderly residents are not getting

In our day and age as we know it, there have been astounding advancements in medicine. The average life expectancy has risen. People are being educated in issues that surround a healthy life style. As a society, we are trying to increase our life span and defeat death. While people are following strict