Brain health: the importance of recognizing cognitive impairment: an IAGG consensus conference
John E Morley, John C Morris, Marla Berg-Weger, Soo Borson, Brian D Carpenter, Natalia Del Campo, Bruno Dubois, Keith Fargo, L Jaime Fitten, Joseph H Flaherty, Mary Ganguli, George T Grossberg, Theodore K Malmstrom, Ronald D Petersen, Carroll Rodriguez, Andrew J Saykin, Philip Scheltens, Eric G Tangalos, Joe Verghese, Gordon Wilcock, Bengt Winblad, Jean Woo, Bruno Vellas, John E Morley, John C Morris, Marla Berg-Weger, Soo Borson, Brian D Carpenter, Natalia Del Campo, Bruno Dubois, Keith Fargo, L Jaime Fitten, Joseph H Flaherty, Mary Ganguli, George T Grossberg, Theodore K Malmstrom, Ronald D Petersen, Carroll Rodriguez, Andrew J Saykin, Philip Scheltens, Eric G Tangalos, Joe Verghese, Gordon Wilcock, Bengt Winblad, Jean Woo, Bruno Vellas
Abstract
Cognitive impairment creates significant challenges for patients, their families and friends, and clinicians who provide their health care. Early recognition allows for diagnosis and appropriate treatment, education, psychosocial support, and engagement in shared decision-making regarding life planning, health care, involvement in research, and financial matters. An IAGG-GARN consensus panel examined the importance of early recognition of impaired cognitive health. Their major conclusion was that case-finding by physicians and health professionals is an important step toward enhancing brain health for aging populations throughout the world. This conclusion is in keeping with the position of the United States' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that reimburses for detection of cognitive impairment as part the of Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and with the international call for early detection of cognitive impairment as a patient's right. The panel agreed on the following specific findings: (1) validated screening tests are available that take 3 to 7 minutes to administer; (2) a combination of patient- and informant-based screens is the most appropriate approach for identifying early cognitive impairment; (3) early cognitive impairment may have treatable components; and (4) emerging data support a combination of medical and lifestyle interventions as a potential way to delay or reduce cognitive decline.
Keywords: Alzheimer disease; Cognitive impairment; MCI; case finding; cognitive frailty.
Conflict of interest statement
B. V. has no conflict of interest for this article, however the Gerontopole has several research programs and consultancies linked to industry. The remaining authors declare they have no conflicts of interest regarding this work.
Copyright © 2015 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Source: PubMed