Cognitive Aging: What Every Geriatric Psychiatrist Should Know

Abstract

The authors of this review both served on the Institute of Medicine Committee, which produced the report “Cognitive Aging: Progress in Understanding and Opportunities for Action.” In this review, the authors summarize portions of the report that are especially applicable to geriatric psychiatrists and other clinicians who work with the elderly. Cognitive aging is a universal phenomenon that must be better understood by clinicians, a trajectory across multiple cognitive functions upstream from mild neurocognitive and major neurocognitive disorders. The authors review the epidemiology, basic neurobiology, and evidence-based interventions for cognitive aging.