We often refer to the “cognitive health” of an older adult, but what does it encompass? According to Medscape, cognitive health in the elderly should be defined not just as the absence of disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease, but rather as the development and preservation of the multidimensional functional structure in the brain that allows the elderly to maintain social connectedness, an ongoing sense of purpose, the ability to function independently, to permit functional recovery from illness or injury, and to cope with residual functional deficits.
Deeper dive
The nine elements of cognitive health are:
- Language
- Thought
- Memory
- Executive functions
- Perception
- Judgment
- Attention
- Remembered skills (such as driving)
- The ability to live a purposeful life
Preserving these functions can literally make the difference between leading an independent or a dependent life.
Advancing age is the most important risk factor for worsening cognitive health, cognitive impairment and dementia. Research has consistently found that certain factors can maintain cognitive health or slow cognitive decline. These include higher educational attainment, higher socioeconomic status, emotional support, better baseline cognitive function, good cardiovascular health, moderate alcohol use and regular physical activity.