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Sep 25, 2023 · atrophy. Read more: What is aphasia, the condition Bruce Willis lives with? Read more: In a chatty world, losing your speech can be alienating. But there's help. We’ve all forgotten the word we ...
Jul 26, 2024 · Vascular issues like reduced blood flow, etc. Genetics and an inherited predisposition to cognitive decline. Brain injuries, like traumatic brain injury. Chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, etc. Side effects of medication like antidepressants, etc. Disrupted sleep patterns and an unhealthy diet.
- Processing speed. What it is: This refers to how quickly the brain can process information and then provide a response, such as making a movement or providing an answer.
- Memory. What it is: This is a broad category covering the ability to remember information. Key sub-types include: Working memory. This refers to the ability to temporarily hold information in mind and manipulate it mentally, like remembering a new phone number and then dialing it.
- Attention. What it is: Attention is the ability to concentrate and focus on something specific, so that the related information can be processed. Key sub-types include
- Language Skills. What they are: Language skills cover a variety of abilities related to understanding and producing both verbal language and written language.
Español. Older adults may worry about their memory and other thinking abilities, such as taking longer to learn something new. These changes are usually signs of mild forgetfulness — or age-related forgetfulness — and are often a normal part of aging. However, more serious memory problems could be due to mild cognitive impairment, dementia ...
- Overview
- What are the signs of cognitive decline?
- How do doctors detect cognitive decline?
- What causes cognitive decline?
- At what age does cognitive decline usually start?
- Are there risk factors linked to faster cognitive decline?
- Can I prevent or delay cognitive decline?
- Frequently asked questions
- Takeaway
As you get older, you may experience a gradual loss of some thinking abilities. A significant change may indicate another health condition.
Your mind is central to your identity. The sharpness of your thinking, your ability to communicate and connect with others, and the rich trove of memories you’ve collected over a lifetime all have enormous value.
As you get older, you may notice changes in some of your thinking skills, including cognitive decline. Cognitive decline is the gradual loss of thinking abilities such as:
•learning
•remembering
•paying attention
Cognitive decline looks different from person to person. That may be because people vary in their health profiles, life circumstances, and capabilities. Still, some patterns have emerged from the research.
People with mild cognitive decline might:
•have trouble finding the right words to express themselves, especially when compared with others of the same age
•lose or misplace things
•forget appointments and scheduled events
•become overwhelmed by complex tasks and projects
Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE) and other screening tests
There are several screen tests that you can use to check for signs of cognitive decline. These tests usually take about 3 to 15 minutes. They include: •Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE) •AD8 Dementia Screening Interview •Quick Dementia Rating System (QDRS) •Mini-Cog SAGE is one of the most common screening tests. You can download the test online and complete it at home. You can also take it to a doctor’s office to complete. SAGE differs from the other tests in that it is slightly more complex. A 2022 study found that SAGE detected cognitive decline in people with MCI 6 months sooner than MMSE, another common test. According to a 2021 review, SAGE produces a correct result 79% of the time. Note that these quick tests are not enough to diagnose cognitive decline or dementia on their own. If your score shows some decline, it may be a sign for a doctor to do a more thorough evaluation.
Neuropsychological tests
In an evaluation, doctors often use neuropsychological tests to see whether your thinking and memory skills are changing. Some of the most common tests are: •Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) •Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) •Sahlgrenska Academy Self-Reposed Cognitive Impairment Questionnaire (SASCI-Q) •Subjective Cognitive Decline Questionnaire (SCD-Q) •Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MCQ) •Everyday Cognition (ECog) •Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Scale •6-Item Cognitive Impairment Test (6-CIT) •Hong Kong Brief Cognitive Test (HKBC) Some of these tests are relatively new. More research is needed to understand how well they predict or measure cognitive decline.
Other tests
A doctor might order a blood test to see if something else — like hypothyroidism or a B12 deficiency — may be causing a change in your thinking abilities. Brain imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may help a doctor determine whether something like a stroke or brain tumor is at the root of your symptoms.
There are many reasons you may experience age-related changes in thinking and memory. Sometimes, another health condition may be the cause. Examples include:
•high blood pressure
•vascular (blood vessel) disease
•depression
•sleep deprivation
•diabetes
Each person is different. Your health behaviors have some influence on your brain function as you age.
A 2020 analysis of the Health and Retirement Study, which involved around 29,000 participants, found that women first experienced cognitive impairment around age 73. Those women who went on to develop dementia did so at about 83 years old. Men, the study found, experienced cognitive decline near age 70 and dementia at 79 years.
It’s important to know that not everyone with cognitive decline will later have dementia.
The study also found that race and education level affect the age of onset.
For many Black and Latinx people in the United States, cognitive decline may begin 3 to 6 years earlier than for white people. Researchers think this disparity could be related to differences in healthcare access and accumulated stress (“weathering”) over a lifetime.
People with higher education levels tend to experience cognitive decline at a later age. This may be because they stay active mentally and have more social connections later in life, researchers said. They may also have greater access to healthcare and earlier treatment of medical problems.
Genes and family history are major risk factors for cognitive decline. But other factors may also lead to faster or more noticeable decline. These include:
•diabetes
•high blood pressure
•stroke
•smoking
•high cholesterol
Some age-related cognitive changes are tied to your genetics. There may not be much you can do to change that risk factor. But there are many other ways to keep your brain healthy and preserve your ability to think.
Here are a few research-supported steps you can take:
•Eat a nutritious diet with lots of leafy green vegetables. Studies suggest that the Mediterranean and DASH diets both slow cognitive decline.
•Stay physically active.
•Connect with other people socially.
•Stimulate your brain with activities, reading, games, and hobbies.
If you experience cognitive decline, will you develop Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)?
Not necessarily. The National Institute on Aging estimates that just 10% to 20% of those with MCI later develop AD or a related dementia.
Can you reverse cognitive decline?
It depends on what’s causing the changes. If your symptoms are related to an underlying health condition, such as sleep deprivation, treating the cause may reduce your symptoms.
How is depression related to cognitive decline?
It may be a two-way street. Studies have shown that depression can often precede cognitive decline among older adults. Research has also shown that people with symptoms of cognitive decline tend to experience depression at a higher rate, too. There isn’t yet enough research to suggest a causal link. But researchers do suggest that treating depression might help prevent dementia. Still, more research is needed.
As you get older, you may notice changes in your ability to remember, communicate, and reason. For many people, these changes are mild and are a regular part of aging. For others, forgetfulness, language difficulties, and confusion can disrupt day-to-day living.
If you think cognitive decline may be affecting your mood, personality, or ability to function, a healthcare professional can help you determine whether you’re at risk for more significant brain changes. Self-assessment tests like SAGE can help you and your doctor track your cognition over time.
Jun 21, 2024 · Signs You Could Have Cognitive Decline. 1. You struggle to stay on top of things. The corticolimbic system of the brain modulates the experience of anxiety. "It also happens to be the same area of the brain that helps with processing speed, attention, planning, judgment, organization and lots of thinking skills," says Garcia-Beaumier. "So if ...
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What does it mean if a person declines?
How does age affect cognitive decline?
A crucial difference between decline and decrease in this last case is that decline can be used to indicate a loss of power, influence, significance, etc., whereas decrease can only be used for a reduction in quantity. Thus you can say both The population is decreasing and The population is declining, but while you can say The Empire is ...
