In This Episode:
Dr. K explains what should happen during an initial medical evaluation when an older person develops memory or thinking problems. She covers:
- What is cognitive impairment and why it’s important to get a medical evaluation
- What kind of cognitive changes are considered normal with aging
- 10 common health issues that can affect memory and thinking
- 10 things a health provider should generally do, during an initial evaluation for cognitive impairment
- The key things the initial evaluation should address
- Whether to expect a definitive diagnosis
- What to expect from your health providers
Related episodes:
002 – What to Do If You’re Worried About Someone’s Memory
003 – Interview: Helping Reluctant Parents Address Memory Concerns
Related Resources:
- Cognitive Impairment in Aging: 10 Common Causes & 10 Things the Doctor Should Check
- How We Diagnose Dementia: The Practical Basics to Know
- The IOM Report on Cognitive Aging
- 4 Types of Medication to Avoid if You’re Worried About Memory
- Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: What to Know & What to Do
- 8 Behaviors to Take Note of if You Think Someone Might Have Alzheimer’s
- 10 Things to Know About HIPAA & Access to a Relative’s Health Information
- What are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) & Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)?
- Understanding Laboratory Tests: 10 Commonly Used Blood Tests for Older Adults
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I would like to obtain on which of your podcasts can be printed. I do not understand or retain the information you give orally . It is difficult for me to follow… Also, want to obtain printed instructions on obtaining The AGS Beers report regarding medication use in older adults. Thank you
I’m glad you enjoyed the podcast! Unfortunately, Dr. Kernisan isn’t able to provide a transcript or subtitles for all of her videos from previous years, but her videos from 2021 all have subtitles which should make them easier to follow. Also, you can slow the video speed down (hover over the bottom right corner of the video while it’s playing to select a slower speed) which might help.
The Beers list is behind a paywall currently, but I think Dr. Kernisan’s article hits the highlights very well! You could also ask a librarian if they can get a copy of the article for you, especially if they are a school library.