Cognitive Impairment Among the Elderly Population

Abstract

Our society is aging; the number of people over 60 years of age is increasing day by day. United Nations projected a 150 million population of people over 60 years in India by the year 2050. One of the many diseases associated with old age is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is a burdensome disease which not only the patients but also the families, caregivers, communities, and society as a whole. AD is a neurodegenerative disease and it is only diagnosed at a very advanced stage of neuro-degeneration. To date, there are no pharmacological treatment or cure for the disease. It is estimated that the number of people affected with dementia will double every 20 years unless some effective prevention strategies or curative treatments are developed. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a gentle form of dementia, and it is found to be a bridging state between normal cognitive changes with aging and the onset of AD. 12% and 20% of patients suffering from MCI advance to dementia within a year and three years respectively. This rate can reach up to 15% annually for patients with amnestic MCI. Therefore, the focus is to screen people with MCI and try to improve their cognitive functions to prevent or rather delay the onset of AD. The 2030 sustainable development goals also outline older people as key stakeholders for the sustainable development of society, in terms of their skills, experience, and knowledge. Therefore, research and development must be promoted both for the early diagnosis and treatment of cognitive decline among the elderly population.