Cognitive Disorders

Cognitive disorders encompass many conditions that affect your brain and lead to symptoms ranging from memory loss and personality changes to difficulty moving. At RHBNeuro, Randi Baculi, MD, and Sanam Zaidi, PA-C, specialize in assessing cognitive problems and providing multifaceted treatments that improve your ability to function and enjoy life. Book your appointment online or call the office in Dallas, Texas.

What are cognitive disorders?

A cognitive disorder is any condition that impairs the thinking processes that support:

• Learning
• Memory
• Language
• Reasoning
• Perception
• Judgment
• Awareness
• Planning

You have a cognitive disorder when a change in your cognitive ability is so severe that it affects your everyday function. It can affect your performance at work, prevent learning, or stop you from completing everyday tasks.

What kind of cognitive disorder could I develop?

Many health conditions lead to cognitive disorders, including:

• Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• Mild cognitive impairment
• Epilepsy
• Stroke
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus
• Parkinson’s disease
• Huntington’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Primary progressive aphasia
• Traumatic brain injury
• Encephalitis
• Developmental disabilities
• Psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder)

You can also develop a cognitive disorder due to chemotherapy, some prescription medications, and substance use disorder.

What symptoms do cognitive disorders cause?

The symptoms you experience will depend on what’s causing your cognitive disorder. The most common symptoms include:

• Confusion
• Headaches
• Balance problems
• Short- and long-term memory loss
• Inability to pay attention or concentrate
• Impaired judgment
• Trouble doing everyday tasks
• Difficulty communicating
• Difficulty understanding language
• Changes in personality and behavior
• Emotional instability
• Poor muscle coordination

Some cognitive disorders cause tremors, muscle rigidity, weakness, or all of them.

How are cognitive disorders diagnosed? 

Your provider begins by assessing your physical health and running blood work and other diagnostic tests to identify underlying health conditions. 

They do thorough neurological testing and cognitive impairment testing. While there are several cognitive tests, RHBNeuro most often uses digital cognitive assessments. 

Digital cognitive evaluations are quicker and give a more detailed picture of your cognitive performance. Your provider can also track changes by comparing the results of your most recent digital assessment with one done in the past.

How are cognitive disorders treated?

RHBNeuro develops a treatment plan based on the cause of your cognitive disorder. Depending on that cause, your provider could recommend medication, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, surgery, or some combination of them.

Some conditions can’t be cured or cause progressive brain damage. But your provider can still create a care plan that eases your symptoms, and prescribe medications that slow down the disease process. Your treatment could also include changing your diet, managing stress, and improving your sleep habits.

You can depend on exceptional care from the team at RHBNeuro. Call or book an appointment online if you need help with cognitive changes.