Abstract
BackgroundThe challenges of today’s society call for more knowledge about how to maintain all aspects of cognitive health, such as speed/attention, memory/learning, visuospatial ability, language, executive capacity and social cognition during the life course.Main textMedical advances have improved treatments of numerous diseases, but the cognitive implications have not been sufficiently addressed. Disability induced by cognitive dysfunction is also a major issue in groups of patients not suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders. Recent studies indicate that several negative lifestyle factors can contribute to the development of cognitive impairment, but intervention and prevention strategies have not been implemented. Disability due to cognitive failure among the workforce has become a major challenge. Globally, the changing aging pyramid results in increased prevalence of cognitive disorders, and the diversity of cultures influences the expression, manifestation and consequences of cognitive dysfunction.ConclusionsMajor tasks in the field of cognitive medicine are basic neuroscience research to uncover diverse disease mechanisms, determinations of the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction, health-economical evaluations, and intervention studies. Raising awareness for cognitive medicine as a clinical topic would also highlight the importance of specialized health care units for an integrative approach to the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions.
Highlights
Medical advances have improved treatments of numerous diseases, but the cognitive implications have not been sufficiently addressed
Raising awareness for cognitive medicine as a clinical topic would highlight the importance of specialized health care units for an integrative approach to the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions
We argue for the need to develop the concept of cognitive medicine as an umbrella term covering aspects of cognition across different health conditions and diseases, to merge and increase knowledge of how to prevent, diagnose, cope and intervene with cognitive decline (Fig. 1)
Summary
Cognitive functions throughout the life course The cognitive system is usually believed to comprise six key functions, which in turn are divided in subdomains [1]. In light of the epidemic development of obesity and physical inactivity worldwide, research in cognitive medicine will address how to design successful early prevention and interventions in children and adults in order to develop and maintain an active lifestyle thereby increasing resilience against cognitive dysfunctions throughout the life course. Integration with existing medical care practice Memory clinics or similar health care units deal mainly with Alzheimer’s disease and related neurocognitive disorders The responsibilities of such units may be expanded to include investigation of various disorders usually not classified as classical memory disorders, but which may exhibit cognitive dysfunctions as essential component that worsen rehabilitation and prevent return to work. Nurses and psychologists can increase their competence in cognitive medicine in a similar way
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