Question

A 78‐year‐old woman presents to clinic with her two daughters, who are concerned about her continued ability to live independently. She has thus far been highly self‐reliant and is opposed to the idea of leaving of her home of 30 years. The clinician performs a complete history and physical exam (including mental status and memory testing) as well as orders laboratory tests before providing the patient and her family the finding that she has age‐appropriate changes that do not reflect any particular disease process. Which of the following findings is most consistent with the normal aging process and does not impair the ability to live alone?

a) Decreased level of thyroid hormone
b) Mild cognitive impairment
c) Decreased adipose‐to‐muscle ratio
d) Age‐related cognitive decline
e) Persistent urinary incontinence

Answer 1

d) Age‐related cognitive decline

Step-by-step explanation:

Age‐related cognitive decline is a natural condition associated with several symptoms including mild memory loss, mild forgetfulness, difficulty to remember names, etc. These symptoms are irregular but generally do not affect normal functions. Mild cognitive impairment is a condition related to memory loss that can lead to severe cases of Alzheimer's disease. Decreased level of thyroid hormone is a mild condition that can be diagnosed and properly treated, which is not related to aging. Persistent urinary incontinence is a mild disease that affects normal life but can also be easily diagnosed and treated. Finally, aging is associated with an increased adipose‐to‐muscle ratio (instead of a decreased rate).