Case Report Cognitive impairment in elderly population is not always a dementia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2025.80.60095Keywords
cognitive impairment, dementia, brain tumor, geriatric population, antiedematous treatmentAbstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIM
Cognitive impairment is frequent disease in elderly people, prompting to the suspection of dementia. Considering the multi-disease nature and complexity of the treatment process for the geriatric population, it is crucial to exclude the several other disease processes and to actively search for causes of cognitive impairment, especially reversible conditions whose treatment can significantly improve cognitive function.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE
An 89-year-old man was admitted to the Geriatrics Unit due to progressive cognitive impairment and motor signs with the suspected dementia diagnosis. After a broad physical examination, laboratory tests and neuroimaging, the brain tumor was detected. The treatment included antiedematous drugs- Mannitol and Dexamethasone. The treatment resulted in an improvement of the contact with the patient and his general condition.
CONCLUSION
This clinical case demonstrates the relevance of searching for less common causes of cognitive impairment, as well as the necessity of careful investigation of concomitant coexisting symptoms, which can often lead us to the right diagnosis .
References
1. Jongsiriyanyong S, Limpawattana P. Mild Cognitive Impairment in Clinical Practice: A Review Article. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018 Dec;33(8):500-507. doi: 10.1177/1533317518791401. Epub 2018 Aug 1. PMID: 30068225; PMCID: PMC10852498.
2. Tangalos EG, Petersen RC. Mild Cognitive Impairment in Geriatrics. Clin Geriatr Med. 2018 Nov;34(4):563-589. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2018.06.005. Epub 2018 Aug 21. PMID: 30336988.
3. Samuels M. H. (2008). Cognitive function in untreated hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Curr. Opin. Endocrinol. Diabetes Obes. 15, 429–433. 10.1097/MED.0b013e32830eb84c
4. Markun S, Gravestock I, Jäger L, Rosemann T, Pichierri G, Burgstaller JM. Effects of Vitamin B12 Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Depressive Symptoms, and Fatigue: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 12;13(3):923. doi: 10.3390/nu13030923. PMID: 33809274; PMCID: PMC8000524.
5. Cabé N, Laniepce A, Ritz L, Lannuzel C, Boudehent C, Vabret F, Eustache F, Beaunieux H, Pitel AL. Troubles cognitifs dans l'alcoolodépendance : intérêt du dépistage dans l'optimisation des prises en charge [Cognitive impairments in alcohol dependence: From screening to treatment improvements]. Encephale. 2016 Feb;42(1):74-81. French. doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2015.12.012. Epub 2016 Jan 14. PMID: 26774623.
6. Wilbur J. Dementia: Dementia Types. FP Essent. 2023 Nov;534:7-11. PMID: 37976169.
7. World Health Organization (1993) The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Diagnostic Criteria for Research. WHO.
8. Arvanitakis Z, Shah RC, Bennett DA. Diagnosis and Management of Dementia: Review. JAMA. 2019 Oct 22;322(16):1589-1599. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.4782. PMID: 31638686; PMCID: PMC7462122.
9. The use of neuroimaging techniques in the early and differential diagnosis of dementia. Mol Psychiatry. 2023 Oct;28(10):4084-4097. doi: 10.1038/s41380-023-02215-8. Epub 2023 Aug 22. PMID: 37608222; PMCID: PMC10827668.
10. Varesi A, Carrara A, Pires VG, Floris V, Pierella E, Savioli G, Prasad S, Esposito C, Ricevuti G, Chirumbolo S, Pascale A. Blood-Based Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis and Progression: An Overview. Cells. 2022 Apr 17;11(8):1367. doi: 10.3390/cells11081367. PMID: 35456047; PMCID: PMC9044750.
11. . Knapskog AB, Engedal K, Selbæk G, Øksengård AR. Alzheimers sykdom – diagnostikk og behandling [Alzheimer’s disease – diagnosis and treatment]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2021 Apr 29;141(7). Norwegian. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.20.0919. PMID: 33950641.
12. Jack CR Jr, Bennett DA, Blennow K, Carrillo MC, Dunn B, Haeberlein SB, Holtzman DM, Jagust W, Jessen F, Karlawish J, Liu E, Molinuevo JL, Montine T, Phelps C, Rankin KP, Rowe CC, Scheltens P, Siemers E, Snyder HM, Sperling R; Contributors. NIA-AA Research Framework: Toward a biological definition of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2018 Apr;14(4):535-562. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.02.018. PMID: 29653606; PMCID: PMC5958625
13. Chahal M, Thiessen B, Mariano C. Treatment of Older Adult Patients with Glioblastoma: Moving towards the Inclusion of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for Guiding Management. Curr Oncol. 2022 Jan 14;29(1):360-376. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29010032. PMID: 35049706; PMCID: PMC8774312
14. A, Liu G. Primary Brain Tumors in Adults: Diagnosis and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2016 Feb 1;93(3):211-7. PMID: 26926614
15. Shen C, Bao WM, Yang BJ, Xie R, Cao XY, Luan SH, Mao Y. Cognitive deficits in patients with brain tumor. Chin Med J (Engl). 2012 Jul;125(14):2610-7. PMID: 22882948. Wilbur J. Dementia: Dementia Types. FP Essent. 2023 Nov;534:7-11. PMID: 37976169
16. Cohen-Inbar O. Geriatric brain tumor management part II: Glioblastoma multiforme. J Clin Neurosci. 2019 Sep;67:1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.05.064. Epub 2019 Jun 18. PMID: 31227406.
17. Chahal M, Thiessen B, Mariano C. Treatment of Older Adult Patients with Glioblastoma: Moving towards the Inclusion of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for Guiding Management. Curr Oncol. 2022 Jan 14;29(1):360-376. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29010032. PMID: 35049706; PMCID: PMC8774312.
18. Wu W, Klockow JL, Zhang M, Lafortune F, Chang E, Jin L, Wu Y, Daldrup-Link HE. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM): An overview of current therapies and mechanisms of resistance. Pharmacol Res. 2021 Sep;171:105780. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105780. Epub 2021 Jul 21. PMID: 34302977; PMCID: PMC8384724.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Karolina Narejko, Martyna Niemczuk, Maksymilian Adam Lech, Sylwia Koziej, Agnieszka Kasiukiewicz, Zyta Beata Wojszel

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The periodical offers access to content in the Open Access system under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 38
Number of citations: 0