Neurologopedic Correlates of Cognitive Ageing and Dementia

Abstract

Introduction. Aging is the subject of interest of many fields of science. Equal place of neurologopedic studies do not raise doubts today — patients followed for deterioration not only of elementary cognitive functions as memory, perception and attention, but also higher as thinking and language. Among people over 65 years old the spectrum of efficiency of cognitive functions can range from a lack of significant disorders through mild dysfunction to the processes of dementia, in which a reduction in the efficiency of intellectual makes unable the normal functioning in everyday life. Aim. The main aim of the study was to determine the dynamics of deterioration of language and communication skills depending on a degree of dementia. Material and Methods. The study was conducted with the use of the method of individual cases. The respondent group consisted of 59 female patients aged over 65. A self-constructed Speech Test Questionnaire was used in the study. Results. There is a close correlation between a degree of neurodegeneration and a state of cognitive actions. The group of patients undergoing natural processes of ageing did not manifest significant cognitive disorders but only slowness of their functions which is characteristic of an advanced age. The degree of language and communication disorders is directly proportional to the size of brain damages and stages of dementia. High levels of dementia in subjects correlated with a number of cognitive deficits. Conclusions. Post-stroke states and numerous ailments and somatic diseases the female patients suffer from may but do not have to correlate with a progressive dementia. (JNNN 2016;5(4):144–150)

Keywords

• cognitive functions
• dementia syndromes
• communication
• speech therapy
• elderly patients