On the Family Doctor program (broadcast on THVL1), Dr. Nghia shared about the symptoms of cognitive impairment: “Cognitive impairment or dementia is sometimes thought of as a decline in memory, but it will depend on which cognitive area the patient suffers from.
If the patient is affected in the area of learning and memory, he or she will often forget recent events, leading to a decline in learning ability. But if the patient focuses on executive function, it is very difficult to plan to do a specific task. In cases of impaired visuospatial function, it is very difficult to find objects in the house.
In terms of language, it is difficult for patients to find the right words to describe an object or phenomenon. Or in cases where patients have impaired social cognition, they will have actions and words that are not appropriate to the situation. Depending on the cognitive field the patient is affected in, it will manifest in one or more different cognitive fields, not necessarily just affecting memory.
Speaking more about the causes and risk factors of cognitive decline, Dr. Nghia shared: “In young people, cognitive decline can be caused by substance abuse such as alcohol, beer... or stress, insomnia and some diseases of the central nervous system, diseases related to metabolism (such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke), degenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease) are also possible causes of cognitive decline."
According to the doctor, if cognitive impairment is detected early, it is not dangerous and can reverse the situation or prevent the progression of the disease. Regarding the treatment method, Dr. Nghia emphasized that the treatment direction does not use drugs. Instead, the patient will be given cognitive training exercises combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation.
“This is a recently updated method - patients will be stimulated with transcranial magnetic fields at different locations. At the same time, doctors and technicians will practice cognition depending on the cognitive area that the patient is affected.
Patients with language impairment will have cognitive exercises focusing on language, or patients with cognitive impairment in executive function will have cognitive exercises in executive function. If there is high blood pressure or diabetes, these risk factors must be controlled.
In addition, methods such as exercise have also been shown to be effective in preventing cognitive decline and dementia. Finally, medication is used for treatment purposes, helping to prevent and slow the progression of the disease.
