Are you aware that 1 in 9 adults in America suffers from cognitive impairment? This condition is associated with thinking delays, memory problems, and more. Regrettably, a significant impairment in cognitive health can start to negatively affect your normal way of life.
The key to preventing total cognitive impairment is by catching it at its roots. The earlier you do so, the better your prognosis.
For the condition to be caught in the early stages, you need to get cognitive health lab tests. The results from cognitive blood tests will provide pertinent information on whether or not you’re suffering from significant cognitive failure.
To get more information regarding cognitive health, failure, and cognitive health testing, continue reading.
What Is a Decline in Cognitive Health?
Deterioration in cognitive health is the middle-ground between typical age-related brain function decline and dementia-associated changes. It expresses minor but noticeable alterations in the manner the brain processes and presents information.
You might have overheard healthcare practitioners refer to it as mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Deterioration in cognitive health may impact your:
- Judgment skills
- Memory
- Language
- Thinking
You and the people around you may begin noting your cognitive ability slipping. Over time, these slip-ups will naturally get worse.
More often than not, persons and their family members may begin seeing these changes before adversely affecting their quality of life. But there are some instances when cognitive regression progresses for a while before it is noticed.
Ensure that you regularly keep a keen eye on your friends and family members. Don’t write off changes in cognitive behavior with aging. Some symptoms associated with cognitive decline could be very severe.
Risk Factors for a Decline in Cognitive Health
The most distinct risk factor associated with cognitive failure is age. With aging, you are sure to experience the effects that come with aging on cognitive ability.
Keeping this in mind, never write off any change when it comes to cognitive health as an indication of aging. Always consult with your medical professional and disclose any visible signs you have exhibited.
Another potential risk factor of cognitive decline is the presence of the APOE e4 gene.
This particular gene is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, though not every individual possessing the gene has contracted developed Alzheimer’s.
In addition to the risk factors mentioned above, there are some lifestyle choices associated with cognitive decline:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Obesity
- Hypercholesteremia (high cholesterol)
- Lack of mentally stimulating activities
- Lack of adequate exercise
- Depression
If you have any of the risk factors mentioned above, consult with your healthcare practitioner regarding exercises and activities best suited for you to perform. These can trigger neurons and augment brain functioning, even if some cognitive regressions have occurred.
Causes of Cognitive Health Decline
There’s no one cause for cognitive health deterioration. There’s also no one outcome for the condition.
Sadly, cognitive functioning is judged on a case-by-case basis. This means that your deterioration in cognitive ability won’t be similar to another individual’s experience with cognitive decline.
Those experiencing cognitive deterioration might exhibit stable, progressive symptoms that could culminate in Alzheimer’s or other associated conditions or improving symptoms. Sadly enough, the individual experiencing cognitive regression doesn’t have any say as to which sort of condition they develop.
Every type of mild cognitive impairment has its own underlying causes(s). Autopsies done on patients with cognitive decline have shown a range of structural and functional alterations within the brain. These include the existence of Lewy bodies, clusters of proteins within the brain, a shrunken hippocampus, reduced usage of glucose, indications of small strokes, and enlarged ventricles.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Decline in Cognitive Health?
Considering how the brain affects everything that happens in the body, those experiencing cognitive regression are likely to note a range of signs and symptoms. Still, the most prevalent ones include complications with language, judgment, and thinking, and memory.
If you become aware that somebody close to you is exhibiting some of the mentioned symptoms, encourage them to consult with their medical practitioner.
How Is Cognitive Health Decline Diagnosed?
The most commonly used method of making a cognitive health decline diagnosis is via cognitive health lab tests. These urine and blood tests can assist your physician in knowing what’s happening in your body that could be altering your mental functioning.
On top of cognitive health lab tests, your physician may order brain scans such as an MRI or CT to eliminate the possibility of a tumor or other changes in the brain.
The Lab Tests Used to Screen, Diagnose, and Monitor Cognitive Health Decline.
There are a number of tests that healthcare providers can use to see whether or not you have cognitive health decline. Listed below are the most common.
- ADmark ApoE Genotype Analysis
- Aluminum
- Bilirubin, Fractionated
- C-Peptide
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
- C-Reactive Protein Cardiac (hs-CRP)
- Cardio IQ™ ApoE Genotype
- Cardio IQ™ Apolipoprotein A-1
- Cardio IQ™ Apolipoprotein B
- Ceruloplasmin
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential and Platelets Blood Test
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Copper
- Cortisol, A.M.
- Cortisol, P.M.
- Creatine Kinase (CK), Total
- Dementia, Secondary Causes Panel
- DHEA Sulfate, Immunoassay
- Drug Screen, Clinical 1 without Confirmation, Serum
- Estradiol
- F2-Isoprostane/Creatinine Ratio
- Ferritin
- Fibrinogen Activity, Clauss
- FSH and LH
- Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
- Gastrin
- Hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1C)
- Homocysteine
- IGF-I, LC/MS
- Insulin
- Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD) (LDH)
- Lead, Blood
- Leptin
- Lipase
- Lipid Panel
- Lipoprotein (A)
- Magnesium
- Magnesium, RBC
- Mercury, Blood
- Phosphate (as Phosphorus)
- Pregnenolone, LC/MS/MS
- Progesterone, Immunoassay
- Prolactin
- PTH, Intact (without Calcium)
- Sed Rate by Modified Westergren (ESR)
- Selenium
- Serotonin, Serum
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
- T3 Reverse, LC/MS/MS
- T3 Total
- T3 Uptake
- T3, Free
- T4 (Thyroxine), Total
- T4, Free
- Testosterone, Total, MS
- The Lab Tests to Screen, Diagnose, and Monitor Cognitive Health Decline
- Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin Antibodies
- TSH
- Uric Acid
- Urinalysis, Complete
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) and Folate Panel, Serum
- Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (D2, D3), LC/MS/MS
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Zinc
Get Your Lab Tests for Cognitive Health With Ulta Lab Tests.
Ulta Lab Tests provides extremely accurate and dependable tests, so you can make an informed decision regarding your health. Here are reasons why you should get your cognitive health lab tests with Ulta Lab Tests:
- No health insurance is needed
- The results you get are confidential and secure
- You’re assured of competitive pricing
- You don’t have to be referred by a physician to get tested
- We guarantee 100% customer satisfaction
- You’ll get your results within 24 to 48 hours for most tests
When you order your lab tests directly from Ulta Lab Tests. Order your cognitive health lab tests now!
Take control with Ulta Lab Tests today!
