Cognitive Impairment and Neurological disorders Flashcards
Affect
A person’s prevailing emotion, as observed by an interviewer or assessor
Agnosia
Inability to recognize common objects, familiar faces, or sounds, despite intact sensory abilities
Aphasia
Loss of the ability to use and understand spoken or written language
Apraxia
Impaired ability to manipulate objects or perform purposeful acts
Ataxia
Impaired ability to coordinate movement, staggered gait
Cognitive functioning
Process by which an individual perceives, stores, retrieves, and uses information
Dysarthria
A speech disorder caused by a weakness or incoordination of the muscles used for speech
Hallucinations
Perceptions of sensory experiences with no external stimuli
Computed tomography
An X-ray technique producing an image of cross-section of tissue
Electro-encephalogram
Recording of the electrical activity of the brain by means of electrodes on the scalp
The three D’s
Delirium, dementia, depression
- Not normal process of aging, incidences increase with age
Delerium
- Relatively rapid onset
- Over hours or days
- Symptoms fluctuate throughout day
Dementia
- Gradual onset
- Slow, steady pattern of decline
- without alterations in consciousness
During Assessment…
Physical environment should be comfortable and free from distractions that could affect the older person’s performance
Components of a cognitive assessment
LOC, orientation x3, immediate, short, and long term memory, attention and concentration, abstract reasoning and problem solving
What is assessed when there is an indication pf cognitive impairment?
aphasia, apraxia, and agnosia
what is included in a comprehensive assessment?
Lab workup, formal cognitive evaluation, neuro-physical, interview, observation, and a functional assessment
Mini-cog, confusion assessment, neecham-champagne confusion scale and the montreal cognitive assessment are…
Examples of screening instruments to monitor and evaluate cognitive status
Delirium is often a result of:
vulnerability due to predisposing conditions (cognitive impairment, severe illness, sensory impairment) or
precipitating factors (medications, procedures, restraints, iatrogenic events)
Delirium is most likely to occur…
Due to several coexisting factors
A highly vulnerable older person requires fewer precipitating factors
Pathophysiology of Delirium
disturbances in neurotransmitters
Delirium is most common in
Older people who have undergone surgery and those with dementia
Delirium in older adults vs younger persons
Seen as normal part of aging, not seen as a medical emergency
HELP
Hospital Elder Life Program