Self-Reported Cognitive Decline: Differentiating The Worried Well From True Cases

Presentation documenting the differences between normal, age-related changes in memory and thinking versus cognitive change that might be associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. Understanding these age-related changes is important, especially in an era of continual medical advancement that has resulted in an increase of our elderly population. Cognition changes in normal-aging adults typically results in slower, less accurate decision-making or processing external stimuli at a slower rate. Age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s accelerates the decline in neuronal functioning and, consequently, cognitive decline which has a detrimental impact on the individual’s ability to perform activities of daily living. Participants of the study were selected by the study coordinator and the Director for the Center for Excellence in Aging & Health. Study research teams were made up of a variety of health professionals including social workers, pharmacists, and occupation therapists. We interviewed participants, gathered health histories, and administered a cognitive screening battery. We utilized the preliminary results to select certain participants to complete a Phase II interview process. We plan to analyze the data as a whole and will leverage our findings to not only assist those who are True Cases to find a path to proper treatment but to advance our knowledge of normal cognitive aging and other changes associated with true cognitive diseases.https://dune.une.edu/cecespring2021/1009/thumbnail.jp