Do you suspect that a family member suffers from cognitive impairment? Surely you have heard an older person say “my memory is no longer what it was”, and relate this to “the ailments of age”. This is surely not a coincidence, since memory decline is one of the first signs of aging.

Natural aging involves certain changes in our body, something normal as the years go by. But we should not confuse it with cognitive deterioration, which requires medical follow-up.

So that you can identify what cognitive impairment is, and know how to act at the first signs, keep reading this post.

You may also be interestedthe aid offered to the Government for caregivers and dependent people.

What is cognitive impairment?

Cognitive impairment in the elderly is a health problem that affects the abilities to process information, learn, remember, communicate, and even perform daily tasks. Contrary to popular belief, it is not part of natural aging. It significantly affects your quality of life, and can be an indicator of other health problems.

Normal aging, cognitive impairment and dementia are three terms that are frequently confused, since the symptoms are somewhat related.

The first thing you should understand is that normal aging does not pose a danger to the elderly person who suffers from it. As we age, our bodies undergo natural and inevitable changes, such as difficulty focusing on close objects, or needing glasses to read.

If you have any signs of cognitive impairment, we recommend that you discuss it with a specialist. This will confirm if any treatment should be applied, or personalized follow-up should be carried out.

How to differentiate cognitive impairment from dementia in the elderly?

Cognitive impairment and dementia in older people are two different, but closely related, pathologies.

If the cognitive deterioration of an elderly person is not detected and treated in time, it could evolve, leading to dementia.

The main difference between cognitive impairment and dementia is that the former does not pose a problem in the daily life of the affected person, allowing them to carry out daily tasks without problems. The second, on the contrary, affects the sense of orientation, social skills, and behavior.

Memory is also usually the focus of attention between these two pathologies. While cognitive impairment only slightly affects memory, dementia damages this ability to a greater degree. An example of this would be the ability to remember names, people, or objects.

How long does a person live with cognitive impairment?

In order to determine how long a person with cognitive impairment can live, we will have to take different factors into account. These include the person's age at the time of diagnosis, the type and severity of cognitive impairment, as well as other health and lifestyle factors.

However, we can make an estimate in elderly people who have surpassed cognitive decline, reaching dementia. In these cases, it is estimated that life expectancy ranges between 8 and 9 years from diagnosis, although life expectancy can reach 20 years.

Early diagnosis will be key, since diseases related to dementia and Alzheimer's are the sixth cause of death in first world countries.

How to prevent cognitive decline in the elderly?

There are different ways to prevent cognitive deterioration among the elderly. Among them we can include:

    1. Activities that keep the brain active:reading, puzzles and board gamesThey are one of the most fun ways to prevent cognitive decline. You can also include learning new skills, or making new friends.

    2. Healthy habits for our body: This advice It helps us to help our mind, as well as the rest of the body. A balanced diet, regular exercise and sufficient sleep will be key to avoiding cognitive decline among the elderly and young.

    3. Learn to manage stress: Chronic stress affects mental and physical health, and can accelerate cognitive deterioration. Therefore, it is advisable to resort to exercises that help reconcile stress, such as meditation or yoga.
Keep in mind that, without treatment, cognitive decline evolves slowly but steadily. Therefore, it is important to try to avoid it, and once detected, work to prevent it from advancing.

We help you care for people with cognitive impairment

At IMA Health we are committed to the care of people with Alzheimer's, dementia, and other pathologies related to cognitive impairment.

This is how Maria Palma explains her experience to us:

"IMA Health makes caring for family members much easier and more comfortable, in my case my mother with Alzheimer's. For me, it is one less responsibility to have to prepare her medication. It is a great job, a great service, and unbeatable care. I recommend it."

Our social impact company was founded by our CEO, Roger Guasch, who was looking for a solution so that his mother with Alzheimer's could take her medication correctly.

In this way, the IMA Health service was born, designed for all those who need support when following medical treatment, whether due to lack of time, problems when organizing, or reduced mobility.

Learn more about our social commitment here.


Disclaimer: At IMA we offer advice and information about our products. Consult with an expert before making any decision that may affectÂ