Abstract
This chapter reviews the basic neurological assessment of older persons with mental and behavioral changes. The comprehensive evaluation of the aging patient presenting with complaints of abnormal or altered functioning of the brain necessitates several crucial steps. Healthcare providers face a mounting burden of acute and chronic impairments of mind and brain health. The medical provider has a responsibility to clearly and accurately communicate the diagnosis to the patient and manage it to the best of their ability. The evaluation in these cases relies on history from the patient, family and other sources, and on physical and mental status examinations. Using the history, examination and test results, the provider solidifies a diagnosis and treatment plan. Though the initial evaluation may then be complete, the situation is reevaluated periodically and may be revised depending on how the patient fares over time.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Wiley Handbook on the Aging Mind and Brain |
| Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
| Pages | 101-129 |
| Number of pages | 29 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781118772034 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781118771778 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 20 2017 |
Keywords
- Aging mind
- Behavioral changes
- Brain health
- Diagnosis plan
- Medical provider
- Mental changes
- Neurological assessment
- Older persons
- Treatment plan
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)