Cognitive Care Types

A cognitive impairment is a change in the way the brain works. “Cognitive” means thinking and remembering. Cognitive dysfunction is a broad term for a variety of issues occurring in the elderly. From mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia, there are several degrees and levels of cognitive dysfunction. Some cognitive impairments include:

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) causes a slight, oftentimes unnoticeable, decline in memory function. Unlike other types of cognitive impairment which affect speech and bodily control, with MCI only one function is declining, the patient’s memory. It’s important to treat signs and symptoms as early as possible. A person with MCI is at increased risk for developing more severe types of impairment like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Dementia
Dementia is more severe than MCI, but initial symptoms appear in the same gradual and progressive manner. There are several types of dementia. Vascular dementia is caused by an impaired blood supply to the brain and may be brought on by stroke. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It typically results from the death of nerve cells and loss of tissue in the brain. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a group of disorders triggered by gradual nerve cell loss in the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. These are just several among many forms of dementia seen in the elderly.

Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is the most serious, and common, form of dementia. It is a progressive disease with symptoms developing gradually before they intensify over time. In its late stages, the disease can make it difficult for a person to handle daily tasks, think clearly, control bodily movements and live independently.