[Predictors of cognitive decline in the elderly].
The elderly population is currently increasing. In this population there is a high incidence of cognitive decline and dementia, which has a negative influence on personal life and family functioning, as well as economic and healthcare repercussions. The present article aims to indicate possible predictors of cognitive decline with a view to predicting this situation and intervening before the cognitive impairment is unavoidable. Some predictors of cognitive impairment could be the following: age, sex, education, a family history of dementia, objective and subjective difficulties with memory, several medical problems (hypertension and diabetes), sensory-motor difficulties, hypometabolism in some cerebral areas, reduced hippocampal size, carrying one or two apolipoprotein e4 alleles, a low score in cognitive tasks (especially immediate and delayed recall), deficits in associative learning and naming, low cognitive plasticity, depression, a low literacy level, poor general cognitive functioning, low participation in social activities, low physical activity, lack of social support, the use of medication and, finally, sleep-related problems. All of these factors could be important in predicting cognitive decline in very old age.
López
Angel G
AG
Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológico, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España. angellpd@gmail.com
Calero
M Dolores
MD
D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors