Recoverable Cognitive Dysfunction in Older Persons

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Older Adults

As the population continues to age and new medical developments make surgery at advanced ages increasingly possible, it is important to consider how older adults tolerate surgery and anesthesia. Considerable evidence shows that older adults have a higher risk of developing postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), which leads to transient and sometimes long-term cognitive changes that may aff...

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Older Adults

Definition After surgery, many older patients have noticed a decline in their cognitive function, especially in memory. Usually, this is not apparent until the patient is discharged from hospital and tries to resume normal activities. The patient may then discover problems with recalling recent events and may tend to forget appointments, phone numbers and names. Doing crossword puzzles or playi...

Urinary Incontinence and Bladder Dysfunction in Older Persons

Cognitive Decline in Older Persons Initiating Anticholinergic Medications

BACKGROUND This study examines the effect of initiating medications with anticholinergic activity on the cognitive functions of older persons. METHODS Participants were 896 older community-dwelling, Catholic clergy without baseline dementia. Medication data was collected annually. The Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale was utilized to identify use of a medication with probable or definite...

Retinal Microvascular Signs, Cognitive Function, and Dementia in Older Persons

Background and Purpose—Cerebral microvascular disease may be a risk factor for the development of dementia in elderly persons. We describe the association of retinal microvascular signs with cognitive function and dementia among older individuals. Methods—In the population-based Cardiovascular Health Study, 2211 persons aged 69 to 97 years at recruitment had retinal photography. Photographs wer...