Decline in cognitive function is already an outbreak and epidemic for lack of a better word.  The danger in cognitive impairment is that the causative agents or factors, cause a series of changes in the victim’s brain years or even decades before the first signs or symptoms manifests (CDC, 2013).  The causes of cognitive impairment are multi-factorial variables and some of the causal factors such as depression, infection, medications and nutrition can be reversible if detected on time.

Based on the CDC weekly report initiated by the surveillance program analysis on self-reported dementia from 2011 survey data conducted by the behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS). The survey analysis indicated a 12.7% increase in confusion among adults greater than 60 years old in 21 states within the past 12 months (CDC, 2013). BRFSS was set up by the CDC to monitor cognitive impairment in order to evaluate possible preventative measures or cures for such disease.

Cognitive impairment or dementia is a precursor for Alzheimers disease (AD), and more than 50% of dementia patients develops AD syndrome (PharmNest, 2013).

The survey involves different race, sex, ethnicity, educational level, veteran’s status, disability status, employment status, marital status and home ownership status. The survey included people aged 60 years to age greater than 85 years old, and totaling 59, 852 adults.

Cognitive impairment among adults aged 85 years and above was estimated at 15.6%, 60-64 years (12.0%) and 65-74 years old (11.9%).  Under race categories, Hispanics or Latinos adults’ cognitive impairment risks were estimated at 16.9%, White (12.1%) and Blacks or African Americans at 11.8%.

Persons’ with less education have a higher rate of cognitive decline (16.2%) compared to college educated individuals (10.9%).  Disabled individuals are 20.2% more likely to have cognitive impairments than people with no disabilities (7.5%).  People who are able to work is within 28.3% compared to people who are employed (7.8%) and unemployed individuals (11.8%).  Students are at 3.9%, and retirees are at 12.3% (CDC, 2013).

Among people that reported memory loss, 35.2% reported functional difficulties.   In addition, among those with functional difficulties, Blacks or African Americans rate of functional difficulties were estimated at 61.6% compared to Whites at 29.1% and Asians/ Islanders/ native Hawaiian (16.2%).  Furthermore, functional difficulties are higher among the age group 60-64 years (44.7%)  than in 64-74 years (29%) and 75-84 years old (32.8%) (CDC, 2013).

This slow and continuous outbreak is age specific.  More than 90% of AD occur in people aged 60 years old.  About 66% of dementia patients are undiagnosed.  Hence, delays in diagnosis significantly hinders medical intervention for treatable or reversible type of dementia.

Unfortunately, the CDC surveillance program or the BRFSS are more focus on the outcome related measures of the disease rather than the etiology aspect of the disease.  This   idea supports the concept that dementia issue is a complicated disease, and thus, it is more important to focus on the outcome measure, to care for those who already developed or will develop the disease rather than the etiology aspect of the disease.

This rationale is destructive in the sense that it will actually facilitate the disease to reach a pandemic state before any proactive actions will be implemented. Several factors such as nutrition, medications and the impact of environmental pollution, should be examined to assess its association with dementia outbreak.

Reference

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Self-Reported Increased Confusion or Memory Loss and Associated Functional Difficulties Among Adults Aged ≥60 Years —21 States, 2011.  Received from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6218a1.htm?s_cid=mm6218a1_w.

PharmNest.  (2013). Neurological Disorder Case Study.  Retrieved from https://www.pharmnest .com/2013/04/27/neurological-disorder-case-study/.