"I am happy that our president got a perfect score of 30 out of 30 on his cognitive screen, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, a tool commonly used to identify mild cognitive impairment. Passing this test means less than most people think. At all levels of our society, I find that the popular understanding of decision-making “capacity” is not nearly adequate for the silver tsunami of elders in the pipeline. MoCA, and other tests used to judge capacity, only roughly approximate an elder’s fitness to manage his or her life. These tests often fail to catch the nuances that can mean the difference between an elder getting the care they need rather than being swindled out of their life savings.
By Elizabeth Landsverk, MD
According to the World Health Organization, 47.5 million people worldwide are living with dementia, a number that is expected to more than triple by 2050. A diagnosis of dementia is frightening and overwhelming for those who have it and for their families. Early detection is critical to ensure quality care and to enable patients and families to plan for the future.
There are a wide range of conditions that mimic the symptoms of dementia, ranging from the side effects of medication to substance abuse to a buildup of fluid in the brain. It may take a series of examinations and tests to identify the underlying cause of symptoms. But the first step is for the patient or family members to recognize when professional help is needed.
