THINKING (COGNITIVE) IMPAIRMENT

Cognitive impairment is a problem with thinking. It includes cognitive disorder, cognitive problems, memory loss, and forgetfulness. The most common cognitive complaint of my patients is poor memory, which involves many areas of the brain and can be caused by other conditions (especially depression).

Cause: 

Cognitive impairment can be caused by many things. To find out what might be the cause of your cognitive impairment you should see your family doctor to give your history, be examined, and have appropriate tests performed.

The causes of cognitive dysfunction I see most often are concussion, depression or anxiety disorder, malnutrition, attention network abnormality, and stroke.

Memory is the most common cognitive complaint of my patients. Many areas of the brain are involved in memory and many other brain problems (most commonly depression) can reduce memory. Poor memory can be caused by deficiencies of B12, B1, magnesium, and phosphorus as well as by low serum sodium levels, medications, hypothyroidism, syphilis, low-pressure hydrocephalus, strokes, head trauma, Alzheimer’s and other degenerative brain diseases, or simply by aging.

Treatment:

Brain mapping will determine whether LORETA neurofeedback can help you. Treatment will identify and reduce any abnormalities in your brain contributing to cognitive dysfunction.
LORETA neurofeedback cannot help if you have a specific diagnosed cause of cognitive impairment, like Alzheimer’s disease, malnutrition, B12 deficiency, hyponatremia, central nervous system syphilis, low pressure hydrocephalus, or hypothyroidism. These must be treated medically.

Specifics:

Cognitive impairment is when a person has trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions. With mild impairment, people may begin to notice changes but still be able to carry out their everyday activities.

Once correctible causes are ruled out, LORETA can be used to treat treated attention, verbal and nonverbal learning, short-term and working memory, visual and auditory processing, problem solving, processing speed, and motor functioning.

Preparation:

Please read the section on “how to prepare for your session”. Your hair must be clean and dry. You must remove everything you can from your head and neck and preferably clothes and other parts of your body.

Dr. Birmingham provides Cognitive Dysfunction Treatment at his Vancouver, BC clinic

For more information or to make an appointment