DISASTER-RELATED COGNITIVE CHANGES: FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF NEUROLOGY AND GERONTOLOGY

Abstract

The average age is gradually increasing worldwide. The importance of periodic assessment of healthy geriatric individuals is increasing daily, along with monitoring geriatric individuals with chronic diseases for their conditions. Comprehensive geriatric assessment is essential for elderly individuals to receive a definitive diagnosis and treatment for their diseases, to enhance their quality of life, and to preserve their functional independence. As a result of disasters worldwide, a higher risk to geriatric individuals among vulnerable populations has been observed. Alzheimer's disease, a common geriatric syndrome, not only affects cognitive functions but is also accompanied by various clinical conditions such as behavioral abnormalities, difficulties in daily living activities, decline in motor functions, and sleep and mood disorders. It is known that patients with Alzheimer's disease may experience worsening cognitive dysfunctions after a disaster, and they may face depression and sleep disorders more frequently. However, the disaster itself is not the only reason for the worsening of the existing dementia syndrome; many factors have an impact, starting from the period before the disaster. Preparedness is the initial step in guaranteeing the survival, independence, and health of those impacted by disasters. For this reason, it is important for neurologists and gerontologists to cooperate and adopt a multidisciplinary approach that aligns with the specified requirements. This collaboration is crucial to ensure that all elderly individuals, particularly those with dementia, are adequately prepared for disasters and to safeguard the cognitive functions of healthy elderly individuals from the adverse impacts of disasters.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• frailty
• caregiver
• cognitive decline
• disaster preparedness

AFET İLİŞKİLİ BİLİŞSEL DEĞİŞİMLER: NÖROLOJİ ve GERONTOLOJİ BAKIŞ AÇISIYLA

Abstract

Tüm dünyada yaş ortalamasının giderek artmasıyla beraber kronik hastalıkları olan geriatrik bireylerin yanında sağlıklı geriatrik bireylerin aralıklı olarak değerlendirilmesinin önemi de her geçen gün artmaktadır. Geriatrik bir bireyin hastalığına yönelik doğru tanı ve tedavi alması, hayat kalitesinin artırılması ve fonksiyonel bağımsızlığını sürdürebilmesi için periyodik kapsamlı geriatrik değerlendirme şarttır. Dünyanın her yerinde yaşanan afetler sonucu geriatrik bireylerin kırılgan bireyler arasında ilk sıralarda yer aldığı görülmüştür. Geriatrik sendromlardan biri olan Alzheimer hastalığı sadece bilişsel fonksiyonlarda etkilenme ile seyreden bir hastalık değildir, bunun yanında davranışsal sorunlar, günlük yaşam aktivitelerinde yetersizlik, motor fonksiyonlarda gerileme, uyku bozukluğu ve duygu durum bozukluğu gibi birçok kliniğin eşlik ettiği bir sendromdur. Afet sonrası Alzheimer hastalarının bilişsel kayıplarında kötüleşme olabildiği, daha sık depresyon ve uyku bozukluğu ile karşı karşıya kaldıkları bilinmektedir. Var olan demans sendromunun kötüleşmesinin tek nedeni afetin kendisi değildir, afet öncesinden dönemden başlayarak birçok faktörün etkisi bulunmaktadır. Hazırlıklı olmak, afetlerden etkilenenlerin hayatta kalmasını, bağımsızlığını ve sağlığını sürdürebilmeyi sağlamanın ilk adımıdır. Bu nedenle başta demanslı bireyler olmak üzere tüm geriatrik bireylerin afete hazırlıklı olmasını sağlamak ve sağlıklı geriatrik bireyleri afetin bilişsel fonksiyonlar üzerindeki olumsuz etkilerinden korumak amacıyla nörologlar ve gerontologların işbirliği içerisinde olması ve belirlenen gereklilikler doğrultusunda multidisipliner bir yaklaşım içerisinde olmaları önemlidir.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• kırılganlık
• bakım veren
• bilişsel gerileme
• afete hazırlık

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