Risk Factors Affecting Cognitive Functioning

Cognitive functioning can be defined as various processes of thinking, learning, and remembering. As we learned in chapter 7 about functional abilities that change as people get older, it is the same phenomena for cognitive abilities. Cognitive assessment is an important component of holistic care because cognitive abilities decrease with as just as functional abilities. The risk factors that affect cognitive functioning are listed as fellows; personal and social influences which include; Age, education, socioeconomic factors, physical and mental health factor such as nutritional status, physical activity, psychological stress, and medications (Miller,2013). Personally, I will be affected by all those factors listed above. Yes, these factors will have an impact on my cognitive functioning. According to Miller, (2013) education, nutritional status, the used of medication, smoking and environmental factors

Regarding aging, studies have shown that older have the perception that as people get into late adulthood, there is the decline in memory that has effects on their cognitive function. These stereotype thoughts are more common older adults with the high educational credential such as advanced practice nurses, medical doctors. I believe this might have an impact on me as a future psychiatric nurse practitioner as p people who are more educated have to internalize stereotypes about the decline in cognitive functioning. Studies have indicated that social relations, race, and ethnicity, and lifestyles factors such as nutrition and physical activity have negative effects on cognitive functioning. Physical activity such as walking, jogging, yoga, swimming improves cognitive functioning. When I get an older adult, due to physical limitations of aging, I will not be able to exercise frequently, and my cognitive abilities will decline. Nutrition affects cognition functioning in any age group.