ASSESSMENT OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE OF GADAU TOWN, ITAS GADAU LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Cognitive impairment represents a spectrum of conditions ranging from mild deficits in memory, attention, and reasoning to severe disabilities that significantly interfere with daily functioning. In elderly populations, the presence of cognitive decline is particularly concerning as it not onlydiminishes quality of life and independence but also increases the risk of morbidity, mortality, and long-term care needs. This creates a substantial burden on families, caregivers, healthsystems, and the wider community. Globally, the prevalence of cognitive impairment is risinginparallel with aging populations, making it a pressing public health concern. In Nigeria andothersub-Saharan African countries, limited research has been conducted in rural areas, where accessto healthcare and awareness of mental health challenges remain poor. This study seeks toassessthe level of cognitive impairment among elderly people in Gadau. Specifically, it aimstodetermine the prevalence of cognitive impairment in this population and to examinethesociodemographic characteristics, such as age, sex, educational status, and marital status, that
are associated with cognitive decline. A cross-sectional study design will be employed, targetingelderly individuals aged 60 years and above. Data will be collected using a standardizedcognitive screening tool, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Montreal
Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), alongside a structured questionnaire to capture relevant
sociodemographic information. The findings of this research are expected to provide valuableinsights into the patterns and determinants of cognitive impairment within the Gadau community. This knowledge will not only inform local stakeholders and policymakers about the extent of theproblem but will also support the design of targeted interventions aimed at prevention, earlydetection, and management of cognitive decline. Ultimately, the study seeks to contributetoimproving the well-being of elderly people in Gadau while guiding future research on cognitivehealth in similar rural settings.
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.