title: Evaluation and management of the elderly patient presenting with cognitive complaints.
abstract: Cognitive complaints are common in the geriatric population. Older adults should routinely be asked about any concerns about their memory or thinking, and any cognitive complaint from the patient or an informant should be evaluated rather than be attributed to aging. Several screening instruments are available to document objective impairments and guide further evaluation. Management goals for patients with cognitive impairment are focused on maintaining function and independence, providing caregiver support, and advance care planning. There are currently no treatments to effectively prevent or treat dementia. Increasing appreciation of the heterogeneity of Alzheimer disease may lead to novel treatment approaches.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Room 8111, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Electronic address: kerry.hildreth@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Kerry L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hildreth
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Room 8111, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Skotti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Church
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D018450:Disease Progression; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods
keywords: Alzheimer disease; Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Elderly