Health of Older People | Uncomplicated Dementia Pathway - No Cognitive Impairment
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Health of Older People
Uncomplicated Dementia Pathway - No Cognitive Impairment
The main distinction between memory loss due to aging, and memory loss due to dementia, is that problems in age-related memory loss, do not affect daily functioning, or the ability to live independently. Age-related memory loss, is not a precursor to mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
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Table 1: Characteristics of memory impairment (adapted from Neurological Foundation of New Zealand). |
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Normal age-related "forgetfulness" |
Mild cognitive impairment |
Dementia |
| Sometimes misplaces keys, spectacles, or other items | Frequently misplaces items | Forgets what an item is used for or puts it in an inappropriate place |
| Momentarily forgets an acquaintance's name | Frequently forgets people's names and is slow to recall them | May not remember knowing a person |
| Occasionally has to "search" for a word | Finding words becomes more difficult | Begins to lose language skills. May withdraw from social interaction |
| Occasionally forgets to run an errand | Begins to forget events or newly learned information | Loses sense of time. Doesn't know what day it is |
| May forget an event from the distant past | May forget more recent events or newly learned information | Working memory is seriously impaired. Has difficulty learning or remembering new information |
| When driving may momentarily forget where to turn. Quickly orients self | May temporarily become lost more often. May have trouble understanding and following a map | Becomes easily disoriented or lost in familiar places, sometimes for hours |
| Jokes about memory loss | Worries about memory loss. Family and friends notice the lapses | May have little or no awareness of cognitive problems |
Last updated : Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Next review date : Thursday, December 13,2018
Next review date : Thursday, December 13,2018
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