Geriatric assessment in elderly patients with neurological diseases

Abstract

Elderly patients usually have specific geriatric problems, including cognitive impairment, depression, falls, gait disturbance, incontinence, eating and swallowing difficulties, malnutrition, and visual and auditory difficulties, in addition to comorbid medical illnesses. Therefore, comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) might be effective for preventing diseases or complications and for maintaining the health status of elderly patients with various neurological diseases. Frailty increases the risks of adverse health outcomes, including falls, disability, hospitalization, institutionalization and even death. Physical frailty is common in old patients with neurological diseases, especially dementia. Several studies suggest that physical frailty and dementia might interact in old age. Since elderly patients with dementia underlie multiple pathologies in the brain, including Alzheimer pathology, cerebrovascular disease, and Lewy body pathology, they unlikely show typical symptoms and clinical courses. Geriatric assessment and intervention may be necessary for considering an exact diagnosis and appropriate therapy and care for elderly patients with neurological diseases.