Cognitive Decline Fueled By Aging Can Lead To Exploitation

Jalene Hahn |
Categories
IBJ

As we age, we slow down physically and cognitively. The physical aspects of aging are more noticeable than the cognitive. My family has watched my mother-in-law slowly lose her cognitive ability, and she now suffers from advanced dementia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Cognitive impairment is when a person has trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that affect their everyday life.” It is a normal part of aging, but the depth and severity can vary greatly.

“With mild impairment, people may begin to notice changes in cognitive functions, but still be able to do their everyday activities,” the CDC says. “Severe levels of impairment can lead to losing the ability to understand the meaning or importance of something and the ability to talk or write, resulting in the inability to live independently.”

To read more, go to: Indianapolis Business Journal