Cognitive Deficits
WHAT IS COGNITIVE DEFICIT?
A cognitive deficit is having difficulty with perception, memory, or abstract thinking that interferes with one’s ability to learn. It may also involve impaired judgment, inattentiveness, impulsiveness, or impairment of speech and language.
WHAT CAUSES COGNITIVE DEFICIT?
Cognitive deficits have a variety of causes, the most common of which are the following:
Growing Older
The process of aging brings on a progressive decline in every person’s overall mental performance. When this happens, we lose our ability to store and recover information from the short term memory. We also gradually lose our ability to learn new things. Aging can affect cognitive function in several ways, including memory loss, dementia, and senility.
Dementia
Dementia is the most serious form of cognitive impairment and is usually age-related. It is often a gradual process that may take months or even years to become evident. The symptoms of dementia often include cognitive deficits and vary according to which areas of the brain are affected. Normal cognitive impairment resulting from aging is not the same as dementia, which is an indicator of disease. However, serious cognitive problems in an older person should not be thought of as inevitable signs of aging. If a person has an obviously serious cognitive deficit and is unaware that there is a problem, he/she most likely will benefit from treatment.
Head Trauma
Mental impairment, either temporary or permanent, can result from head trauma. While most types of head trauma are apparent when a patient is examined and a history taken, one type, a subdural hematoma, is more difficult to diagnose. In this condition, blood leaks into the tissues around the brain. It is common among older people and can occur after very minimal impact. Its onset may be very gradual if the leak is especially slow. Symptoms—headache, confusion, and lethargy—may be mistaken for other disorders.
Depression
Any emotional disorder can have a harmful effect on mental functioning, and this is very true of depression. People who are depressed and under stress may experience cognitive deficits. These are almost always temporary and respond well to the proper treatment. In older people, depression may not be considered, since the symptoms may be similar to those of a physical illness. Depression is a very common and serious disorder that robs its victims of pleasure, makes other medical conditions worse, and can result in suicide.
Circulatory Disorders
Heart disease and strokes limit blood flow through the body, resulting in reduced oxygen available to the brain. These disorders can cause impairment of several mental functions, including memory, attention, and learning.
Medication Side Effects
People may experience negative side effects when they receive the incorrect dosage of a medication. Also, they may have an unexpected reaction to a medication or to a combination of medications. When a person takes several medications prescribed by different doctors, such reactions may occur. This is most common among older people. It is always important to inform your doctor of all medications, including nonprescription ones, being taken.
Substance Abuse
Drug and alcohol abuse can cause cognitive impairment in a person of any age. Alcohol also causes liver damage and dementia.
Hormone Changes
Many hormone level changes take place during the aging process. Women in menopause often experience, in addition to other symptoms, mood swings, nervousness, and fatigue. Men may experience a variety of symptoms as their testosterone levels decrease, including decreased density of muscle tissue and bones, greater amounts of abdominal fat, higher cholesterol levels, and weakening heart function. Men may also experience both psychological and sexual changes that can affect cognitive functioning.
Metabolic Disorders
Many older people have small appetites and less energy available for food shopping and preparation. Their bodies also absorb fewer nutrients from the food they eat, the result of which can be nutritional deficiencies, anemia, and thyroid problems. These problems sometimes are not properly diagnosed, because their symptoms are attributed to aging.
Neurological Disorders
Multiple sclerosis and hydrocephalus are examples of disorders that can impact one’s mental functioning.
Infections
Exposure to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections may result in cognitive impairment.
Exposure to Toxic Substances
Being exposed to toxic substances, such as carbon monoxide and methyl alcohol, can harm one’s cognitive functioning. People who are exposed to lead during early childhood may experience some irreversible cognitive impairment.
Brain Tumors
Growths in the brain may result in mental impairment.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?
Because of the many causes, treatment of cognitive deficits depends on the specific diagnosis and causes. In general, the following treatments may be recommended.
Diet and Exercise
When cognitive impairment is caused by normal aging, it is a good idea to work on improving one’s overall health. This means taking good care of your body—exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet to lower cholesterol levels, and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol use.
Counseling
If you are depressed, seek the help of a licensed mental health professional. People with depression generally respond well to counseling or (if necessary) a combination of counseling and antidepressant medication.
Nutritional Supplements
Some nutritional supplements may help brain functioning.
Talk to your doctor about which supplements are best for you.
WHERE CAN I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION?
Schmelzkopf, Dick. Brain-Damage: A Book about Overcoming Cognitive Deficit and Creating the New You. Houston: Emerald Ink Publishing, 2001.
Swanson, Kara, and Chrumka, Mike. I’ll Carry the Fork!: Recovering a Life after Brain Injury. Scotts Valley, CA: Rising Star Press, 1999.