Comprehensive Assessment of Cognitive Function: A Clinical Perspective

📝Cognitive functioning refers to multiple mental abilities such as consciousness, attention, memory, intelligence, judgment, and insight.

🔍Clinical bedside assessment of cognitive function can pick up severe to moderate cognitive dysfunction but may miss milder deficits.

📚Milder cognitive deficits require a proper structured neuropsychological assessment to evaluate cognitive function accurately.

😴Consciousness and orientation should be assessed before moving on to cognitive assessment, as disorientation and altered sensorium may affect the results.

🧠Evaluation of attention and concentration can be done using digit span and serial subtraction tests, assessing the ability to focus and sustain attention.

What is the purpose of cognitive assessment?

—The purpose of cognitive assessment is to evaluate various mental faculties such as consciousness, attention, memory, intelligence, judgment, and insight.

Can clinical bedside assessment pick up milder cognitive deficits?

—No, clinical bedside assessment is more effective in detecting severe to moderate cognitive dysfunction rather than milder deficits.

When should a structured neuropsychological assessment be considered?

—A structured neuropsychological assessment should be considered for evaluating milder cognitive deficits that may be missed by clinical bedside assessment.

Why is it important to assess consciousness and orientation before cognitive assessment?

—Assessing consciousness and orientation is important as disorientation and altered sensorium can affect the results of cognitive assessment.

What tests can be used to evaluate attention and concentration?

—Tests such as digit span and serial subtraction tests can be used to assess attention and concentration.

00:00Introduction to the assessment of cognitive function in a clinical setting.

02:57Explanation of cognitive functions and their importance in mental abilities.

05:33Importance of assessing consciousness and orientation before cognitive assessment.

09:26Assessment of attention and concentration using digit span and serial subtraction tests.

11:26Evaluation of memory, including immediate, recent, and remote memory tests.