IOM Report Emphasizes Regular Assessment for Cognitive Decline

​Cognitive aging describes the gradual and variable change in mental function over an individual's lifetime and is not necessarily related to neurologic processes such as dementia, and a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) describes it as "one of the most challenging health issues encountered by older adults." The report highlights actions that individuals can take, such as remaining physically active and addressing cardiovascular risk factors, to promote cognitive health. For providers, IOM recommends performing cognitive assessments at annual wellness visits and lists tools that can be used to conduct such screenings.