The facts about cognitive impairment
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SIGNIFICANT cognitive impairment is a term used to describe conditions affecting the brain and can include a wide range of symptoms including confusion, memory loss and speech and language problems.
Many patients are affected differently by the disorder. Experts last night said cognitive impairment was a vague term and may not necessarily involve any memory loss.
It has a range of possible causes and can be linked to Alzheimer's Disease or may be the result of a number of small strokes suffered by the patient. In these cases the condition is not readily treatable.
The condition may also be linked to other causes, including the side-effects of certain medication or vitamin deficiency such as Vitamin B-12, both of which are treatable with a chance of improvement in the patient's condition.
Mr Reynolds has suffered from diabetes for many years, which can lead to high blood pressure and cholesterol, increasing the risk of stroke.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition, worsening as it develops. There is no cure for the condition, although there is treatment available that can slow down its development. Early stages may begin with minor memory problems and difficulty saying the right words.
Medication may work by preventing a chemical breakdown in the brain. When nerve cells are damaged by brain deterioration, they release a chemical called acetylcholine. By preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, brain deterioration is also slowed down.
- Eilish O'Regan
