Cognitive Impairment

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Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive Impairment (pronunciation: /kɒɡˈnɪtɪv ɪmˈpeɪrmənt/) refers to a significant reduction or deterioration in mental functions such as memory, attention, language, and problem-solving abilities.

Etymology

The term 'Cognitive Impairment' is derived from the Latin word 'cognitio' meaning 'knowledge' and the English word 'impairment' meaning 'the state of being diminished, weakened, or damaged'.

Definition

Cognitive Impairment is a broad term that covers a variety of conditions where a person has trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that affect their everyday life. Cognitive impairment ranges from mild to severe. With mild impairment, people may begin to notice changes in cognitive functions, but still be able to do their everyday activities. Severe levels of impairment can lead to losing the ability to understand the meaning or importance of something and the loss of the ability to talk or write, resulting in an inability to live independently.

Related Terms

  • Dementia: A general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life.
  • Alzheimer's Disease: A progressive disorder that causes brain cells to waste away (degenerate) and die. It's the most common cause of dementia.
  • Mild Cognitive Impairment: A slight but noticeable and measurable decline in cognitive abilities, including memory and thinking skills.
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases: Diseases characterized by the progressive degeneration and death of nerve cells which leads to changes in movement (motor symptoms) or mental functioning (cognitive symptoms).

See Also

External links

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