Cognitive impairment
Cognitive impairment occurs when there is a problem with perceiving, thinking, or remembering. Strokes are a common cause of cognitive impairment; other causes include head injuries and some chronic diseases, such as sickle cell disease or multiple sclerosis.
Cognitive impairment may cause difficulties with:
- Memory, especially short-term memory.
- Problem solving.
- Attention span, especially in a mental task such as a math calculation.
- Expressing oneself, such as finding the right words to use in a conversation.
Treatment for cognitive impairment depends on the cause.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 25, 2007
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