Scenario: You are with your preceptor, Dr. Mark Parr, in clinicals. Today’s patients include Rose Lee Strom, a 73-year-old woman. Rose Lee was
brought in for a psychological evaluation by her brother Robert Chang because of a three-year history of memory impairment. Rose Lee completed
high school and then worked in a clerical position until her retirement in 1995. Since the death of her husband in 2002, she has lived alone and
maintained her own home and financial affairs.
Robert has noticed that Rose Lee has a gradually worsening memory impairment and difficulty finding words, but Rose Lee became angry at the
suggestion that she may have a progressive impairment. Robert says other family members and friends have noted a decline in housekeeping and
financial affairs, but Rose Lee herself has no complaints.
Elevated arterial blood pressure was documented on several occasions, but Rose Lee never took medication. She has no children and had a
hysterectomy in her thirties.
She is a well-groomed woman who is alert and friendly. General and elemental neurological exams are normal.
Question to address
How can you differentiate normal age-related decline from pathological signs/symptoms associated with neurocognitive disorders?
Sample Solution