Understanding Neurocognitive Disorders: Symptoms, Types, and Support Strategies for Older Adults
A loved one starting to show signs of cognitive decline doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Many seniors diagnosed with neurocognitive disorders can live long and active lives with proper care and treatment. To best help your loved one, it’s important to understand the differences between neurocognitive disorders, including symptoms, causes, and interventions beyond medicine.
What Are Neurocognitive Disorders?
eurocognitive disorder is an umbrella term for a class of neurological conditions that affect memory, mobility and motor function, language, executive function, and social cognition. A variety of factors can cause them, including traumatic brain injuries such as concussions, vascular episodes such as stroke, or metabolic conditions such as vitamin deficiencies. In seniors, neurocognitive issues are most often associated with degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Huntington’s Disease.
The most common major neurocognitive disorder is Alzheimer’s disease, sometimes known as Alzheimer’s dementia. This disorder is associated with long-term neurocognitive decline, typically affecting memory and thinking skills.
Neurocognitive disorders may present in varying degrees of severity. A mild neurocognitive disorder may include some cognitive symptoms, but the affected person is still generally able to remain independent. A major neurocognitive disorder, such as dementia or Parkinson’s, may impact the individual strongly enough to require long-term care and assistance with daily activities.
Common Types of Neurocognitive Conditions Affecting Seniors
When you think of neurocognitive disorders, the first thing that comes to mind is probably dementia. Although many people use dementia interchangeably with Alzheimer’s disease, they’re not quite the same thing. Alzheimer’s is a specific disorder affecting memory and thinking skills, while dementia is an umbrella term for a collection of similar disorders, including Alzheimer’s.
Neurocognitive disorder symptoms in seniors can be associated with one or more of several disorders. The diagnosis is determined by the type and severity of cognitive decline symptoms, causes identified in the brain (such as protein buildup), and genetic factors.
| Neurocognitive Disorder | Symptoms | Cause | Typical Age of Onset |
| Vascular Dementia | Executive dysfunction, poor concentration, confusion, and memory loss. Symptoms progress in stages as further vascular events cause additional damage. | Reduced blood flow or poor oxygen saturation in the brain, often from stroke or blocked blood vessels. | Age 65+, but can begin at any age following a vascular event |
| Lewy Body Dementia | Hallucinations or abnormally vivid dreams, declining motor skills, fluctuating bouts of cognitive symptoms such as memory loss, mood swings, or personality changes. Decline comes in waves, with alternating periods of clarity and confusion, but overall functioning steadily worsens over time. | Buildup of proteins, called Lewy bodies, which damage brain cells over time. | Age 50-80 |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | Steady cognitive decline, including progressive short-term memory loss, loss of linguistic skills, and confusion. | Buildup of protein plaques or tau tangles, which damage neurons and cause brain shrinkage. | Age 65+, but early-onset Alzheimer’s can start as young as 40s or 50s |
| Parkinson’s Disease | Primarily declining motor function, including tremors, slow movement, and muscle rigidity. Later stages include memory loss, executive dysfunction, and slowed information processing. | Loss of dopamine-producing neurons in movement region of the brain. May be associated with Lewy body buildup. | Age 50-65 |
| Huntington’s Disease | Involuntary movements such as jerky limbs, depression, mood swings, progressive cognitive symptoms including memory loss, inability to learn new information, slowed or “stuck” thinking, executive dysfunction, and impulsive behavior. | Entirely genetic. If the mutated gene is inherited, onset is guaranteed. The mutation causes the breakdown of nerve cells in the center of the brain. | Age 30-50 |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | Confusion, headaches, nausea, mood changes, cognitive impairment. Not degenerative, but increases risk of other neurocognitive disorders. | Serious impact to the head, most common in seniors after a fall. | Any age, symptoms start immediately after injury occurs |
Nurturing Wellness After a Diagnosis
Although medical treatments are important for maintaining neurocognitive health, lifestyle interventions are equally important after a diagnosis. Maintaining social connections, an active lifestyle, and a nutritious diet can go a long way toward protecting both physical and mental health.
One way seniors can track lifestyle goals is to keep a “want-to-do list” with changes they want to make, experiences they want to have, or targets they want to reach. For example, they may set a goal to see friends or attend a social event at least twice per week. They may aim to eat a little from each food group at every meal, or to cultivate a new hobby, like painting or hiking.
Seniors dealing with neurocognitive disorders should work with their doctors or other support people to determine lifestyle changes that would have the best health outcomes. They should also set their own personal objectives. Choosing goals with personal meaning can motivate seniors to pursue them more readily and make checking off each item that much more satisfying.
The Power of a Supportive Living Environment
Following a neurocognitive disorder diagnosis, many seniors find it helpful to move to a senior living community. These environments provide a structured routine that helps reduce anxiety and provide stability. In addition to medical care, such as medication management and symptom tracking, these communities offer seniors a vibrant lifestyle designed to nourish mind, body, and soul.
Many residences offer a variety of amenities designed to enrich residents’ lives and foster social connections with their neighbors. Common perks include chef-prepared dining options, regular entertainment, and senior wellness programs such as fitness classes or group activities. Residents are immersed in a senior lifestyle and culture that brings them together and helps them thrive.
Finding the Best Path Forward for Your Family
If your loved one is dealing with neurocognitive disorder symptoms, there is help. At Senior Resource Group, our CARF-accredited communities are designed to give your loved one the care and quality of life they deserve so they can live better for longer. Contact us for more information or to schedule a community tour, and find more memory care and dementia resources on our blog.
