Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Abstract

Cognitive impairment and dementia affect dozens of millions of people worldwide and cause significant distress to patients and caregivers and a financial burden to families and health care systems. Careful history-taking, cognitive and physical examination, and supplemental neuroimaging and fluid-based biomarkers can accurately diagnose neurocognitive disorders. Management includes non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments tailored to the etiology and to the individual.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Assessment; Dementia; Frontotemporal dementia; Mild cognitive impairment (MCI); Neurocognitive disorder; Treatment; Vascular dementia.