THE IMPORTANCE OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA IN THE ELDERLY

The causes of forgetfulness episodes in the elderly can occur for a variety of reasons, among which we highlight the presence of dementia, which can negatively infer senile cognition, memory, language and communication. Dementia is a condition in which the individual loses part of the brain functions, causing neurological deficits that directly affect his quality of life. This study discusses the importance of Neuropsychological Assessment as a fundamental tool for the diagnosis of degenerative disease, before the complaints of oblivion related to the advancing age. The results indicated that the use of this method of examination can indicate the therapeutic intervention in an adequate time, allowing the improvement of the quality of life for the elderly.