What is it?
While a difficult subject to discuss, cognitive loss has an impact on our lawyers and judges. The risk of cognitive loss does increase with age, but it only affects a minority of our older lawyers. Cognitive loss may impair a lawyer’s ability to meet his or her ethical obligations and impact their safety, health, and personal lives. While the thought of experiencing cognitive loss through dementia often generates fear and uncertainty, help is available. If you suspect cognitive loss, help is available. Call NLAP to discuss your situation and talk through a path forward.



How does it affect me?
Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities. These functions include memory, language skills, visual perception, problem solving, self-management, and the ability to focus and pay attention.            
                                                                                                                                                                                     - Source: National Institute on Aging

Data from the Centers on Disease Control (CDC) and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, indicates the following:

• 11% of Americans aged 65 and older experience a form of dementia, which can result in significant cognitive impairment.
• Alzheimer’s disease and vascular disease are the leading causes of dementia.
• Age is a risk factor, but people at younger ages can experience cognitive loss.
•  By 2025, its estimated that 40,000 Nebraskan’s will have Alzheimer's Disease.

Signs and Symptoms

• Difficulty completing familiar tasks, planning
• Missing appointments, difficulty with time
• Inappropriate comments or actions, personality changes, lapses in judgment
• Changes in use of language (however, trouble coming up with an occasional word is a normal change of aging)
• Misplacing things and inability to retrace steps
• Social withdrawal
• Visual spatial problems

Getting Help
Don’t assume the worst. Start by discussing your situation with your health care provider. Be honest and open about any symptoms you are experiencing. A comprehensive cognitive evaluation may be appropriate to determine the cause of your symptoms. There are specialists who have the experience and diagnostic testing to provide you with answers and, if cognitive loss has occurred, a treatment plan. If you or a lawyer, judge or law student you know is possibly affected by cognitive loss, call NLAP and we can provide referrals to treatment providers who specialize in this area. If you know someone who you suspect is affected by a cognitive loss, call NLAP and we can coach you through how to start a difficult conversation and where to go from there.

Resources:
Call the Alzheimer’s Association helpline at (800) 272-3900 or visit https://www.alz.org.