Page 78 - Javanan Magazine Issue # 1869

PSYCHOLOGICAL
PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE No. 1868
ISSUE No. 1856
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES JAVANAN
JAVANAN
Dr. Alan A.
Modarressi LOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
Clinical and A SOCIOCULTURAL AND MIND AND BODY OUTLOOK
Neuro-Psychologyst
In this column, we examine the mental health issues in the context
of social, culture, and physiological concerns of the Iranian community

The Medicare visit is supposed
ELDERLY DEMENTIA SUFFERRERS among Black older adults, who to include a cognitive screening,
are often diagnosed much later in
AND LACK OF AWARENESS the disease trajectory compared but it can be difficult to ascertain
to other racial and ethnic groups.
a cognitive concern in a 20-min-
Studies Show Most Are Unaware of their The prevalence of not having ute annual visit, she said. Adding

Diagnosis reported a dementia-related di- a specific cognitive assessment
can also take up visit time.
agnosis, despite being identified
as living with a cognitive impair- Researchers often hear from
sing data from the Health screenings and assessments are ment consistent with dementia, concerned family members
and Retirement Study to really critical. It is particularly differed by gender, education who don’t know next steps, or
Udevelop a nationally rep- important to have some baseline and race. Image is in the public the family member they’re con-
resentative sample of roughly information available to provid- domain cerned about wants to maintain
6 million Americans aged 65 or ers of patients over 65. Education is often a proxy independence and privacy, and
older, researchers at the Univer- Co-author Ryan McGrath, an for socioeconomic status, so doctors can’t share information
sity of Michigan, North Dakota assistant professor at North Da- throughout life, wealthier indi- without the patient’s consent.
State University and Ohio Uni- kota State University, suggested viduals have more access to re- They encourage open com-
versity found that 91% of people that the migration to telemedicine sources that affect both risk and munication and reminds families
with cognitive impairment con- during the COVID-19 pandemic disease progression, she said. that they can still share informa-
sistent with dementia told ques- further underscores the impor- And, evidence suggests that edu- tion with the loved one’s provid-
tioners they had no formal medi- tance of cognitive assessments. cation may influence cognitive er directly or through a nurse or
cal diagnosis of Alzheimer’s “We recommend that health testing performance. medical assistant.
disease or dementia. care providers screen for low
The discrepancy was higher cognitive functioning during rou-
than I was expected by research- tine health assessments, when
ers. When proxy reporters (gen- possible,” he said. “A telemedi-
erally, family members) respond- cine option may reduce clinic
ed, the prevalence dropped from time and expand reach.”
91% to around 75%, which is The prevalence of not having
still very significant. While many reported a dementia-related di-
people may have been diagnosed agnosis, despite being identified
and remain unaware or forgot as living with a cognitive impair-
about their diagnosis, what’s ment consistent with dementia,
concerning is that cognitive as- differed by gender, education and
sessment, specifically dementia race.
screening, isn’t routine during People who identified as non-
annual well visits for older adults. Hispanic Black had a higher es-
COVID-19 gives these num- timated prevalence (93%) of no
bers heightened significance be- reported diagnosis, as did males
cause people with dementia have (99.7%) compared to females
higher risk for hospitalization (90.2%) The estimated preva-
and death following an infection, lence of no reported diagnosis
Robinson-Lane said. COVID-19 for non-high school graduates
also causes long-standing neuro- was about 93.5%, compared to
logical effects in some people, 91% for those with at least a high
perhaps increasing risk for future school education.
dementia-related diagnoses. The study shows that there
The researchers stated that now is a large disparity in dementia-
more than ever, these routine related treatment and diagnosis

DANESH FOROUGHI, PH.D. Alan Modarressi, PhD, QME

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PSY13680 Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Licensed Marriage, Family & Child Psychotherapist, MFC23455
Qualified Medical Evaluator
Certified National Board of Addiction Examiners #4974 Certified Psychophsychologist
Tel: (310) 940-3642 Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management

15720 Ventura Blvd., Second Fl. #224 Encino CA 91436 (818) 501-6080 (562) 861-7226
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