Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Symptoms

Prevention and Management of Falls in Older Adults

• The purpose of screening for falls risk is to identify older adults who are at risk of falling.
• Older adults are generally considered to be individuals aged 65 and above.
• Sensitivity to falls risk can be increased by using a combination of screening tools and assessments.
• Opportunistic identification of falls is necessary because falls can occur at any time and may not be reported by the older adult.

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA)

• The purpose of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is to identify and address the medical, social, and functional needs of older adults.
• A multifactorial falls risk assessment (MFRA) is a key component of a CGA.
• The purpose of an MFRA is to identify and address the multiple risk factors that contribute to falls.
• Assessing gait and balance during a falls risk assessment is important because gait and balance impairments are major risk factors for falls.
• Asking questions related to dizziness and unsteadiness during a falls risk assessment is important because these symptoms can indicate a higher risk of falls.
• The focus of cognitive testing during a falls risk assessment should be on identifying potential cognitive impairments that may contribute to falls risk.

Additional Components of CGA

• The psychological assessment in a CGA includes an assessment of cognitive function, mood, and behavior.
• The purpose of a Personalised Care Plan is to provide individualized care and support to older adults based on their specific needs and goals.
• The role of a Geriatrician or Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) in the context of CGA is to coordinate and provide comprehensive care to older adults.
• The core team in a CGA program typically includes a geriatrician, nurse, social worker, and other healthcare professionals.
• The model employed by GPs who have adopted a CGA-based proactive model of care for their elderly patients involves a team-based approach to care.

Cognitive Assessment and Delirium

• Episodic memory is more affected by aging than verbal cognition.
• The preferred brain imaging technique to predict progression from MCI to Alzheimer disease (AD) is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• The acronym for the rapid assessment test for delirium is 4AT.
• MCI stands for Mild Cognitive Impairment.
• The primary purpose of a functional assessment is to identify an individual's ability to perform daily tasks and activities.
• Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are distinguished from Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) in that they include more complex tasks such as managing finances and cooking.

Delirium

• The elements contingent upon successful aging are the absence of disease, high cognitive and physical function, and active engagement with life.
• Delirium is not a risk factor for delirium.
• A common presentation of delirium is a sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, and altered levels of consciousness.
• The mnemonic "DELIRIUMS" is useful for reviewing possible causes for delirium.
• The most common cause of delirium in older people with pre-existing cognitive impairment is infection.
• In the presence of an acute confusional state, change in perception, change in physical function, and change in social behavior, delirium should be suspected.
• Patients with delirium are often labeled as "confused" or "demented".
• When approaching the diagnosis and management of patients who do not meet all the criteria for a diagnosis of delirium, the possibility of delirium should be borne in mind.
• A common cause of delirium in older people, especially those with pre-existing cognitive impairment, is urinary tract infection.