Final answer:
Disease affects cognition by causing changes in the brain, such as those seen in Alzheimer's disease, which lead to memory loss and difficulties with daily activities. Cognitive impairment can be detected through mental status exams, while cognitive rehabilitation, including virtual reality technology, may help mitigate some effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Disease can significantly impact cognition, especially as people age. For instance, with conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD), a type of dementia, the brain undergoes pathological changes that severely affect cognitive functions. AD is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, leading to the loss of synapses between neurons, and eventually neuron death. These processes diminish memory, language skills, and the capability to perform daily activities, resulting sometimes in severe forgetfulness and difficulty with tasks like walking, talking, and eating.
The mental status exam can reveal cognitive impairment through specific subtests. For instance, memory functions are primarily associated with the temporal lobe, including the hippocampus and amygdala. Damage to these areas, which can be gleaned from scores on various subtests of the mental status exam, indicates cognitive problems.
Furthermore, cognitive rehabilitation offers a glimmer of hope for those with mild cognitive impairment, possibly preventing its progression into more severe forms of dementia. Virtual reality technology has been explored as a method for cognitive rehabilitation to help patients relearn daily living activities and improve memory and language skills. However, multiple chronic health conditions prevalent in the elderly can compound the challenge of maintaining cognitive health. The immune system's declining efficiency increases the risk of serious illnesses like cancer and pneumonia, further complicating an individual's cognitive abilities.