Assessment of cognition in primary care: neuropsychological evaluation of the geriatric patient

Abstract

Some aspects of memory and other thinking abilities decline as part of the normal aging process. Normal age-related cognitive decline and disease-associated cognitive impairment can be difficult to differentiate in the typical patient-physician interaction, especially in the geriatric primary care setting where patients may present with multiple physical complaints that consume the physician's attention. It is essential that clinician's recognize even modest changes in thinking abilities in the geriatric patient since these changes may be an early warning sign of an impending dementing disorder. At the very least, reduced cognitive functioning can decrease one's quality of life as well as threaten their independence. When cognitive decline is suspected, a neuropsychological evaluation can provide an objective assessment of cognitive functioning that is useful for differential diagnosis, assessing presence and progression of cognitive disorders, and providing information relevant to treatment and planning. This article explores the challenges of cognitive assessment in older adults and provides an overview of the neuropsychological evaluation, its advantages and limitations, as well as common referral questions from primary care physicians.