Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT is a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience in a variety of healthcare settings.
Huma Sheikh, MD, is board-certified in neurology and specializes in migraine and stroke. She co-founded the migraine and vascular section for the American Headache Society.
Cognitive skills are mental processes that allow you to gain knowledge and give you the ability to think. Neurocognitive functions are mental processes that are linked to specific parts of the brain or pathways in the brain.
Neurocognitive testing, also called neuropsychological testing, assesses a variety of cognitive skills, such as memory, visual and spatial skills, language and math skills, and problem-solving abilities.
This article discusses neurocognitive function, factors that affect it, how it is tested, and how deficits are treated.
Neurocognitive function may be affected by age or a health condition.
Neurocognitive functions often decline with age. Over time, the brain can shrink, and areas of the brain begin to lose the ability to effectively communicate with each other.
Neurocognitive skills most commonly affected by age include:
Neurocognitive functions are affected by a variety of health conditions that involve the brain. They are known as neurocognitive disorders. These are diseases that affect mental skills due to conditions that are not caused by psychiatric illness.
Neurocognitive skills are classified into five domains in the standard diagnostic tool of mental health professionals, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
Neurocognitive disorders range from mild to severe, depending on a person's ability to perform daily tasks without assistance. In mild cases, a person has difficulty with more complex cognitive tasks such as managing money. A moderate deficit can cause difficulty with self-care tasks such as eating or getting dressed. In severe cases, a person is unable to care for themselves.
Examples of neurocognitive disorders include:
Neurocognitive deficits can also occur with other medical conditions such as:
Neurocognitive testing includes a variety of neurocognitive assessment tools (NCATs) that target different neurocognitive skills. NCATs are standardized tests that can be computerized or done on paper.
Neurocognitive tests may catch deficits early, when they are easier to treat. If you are concerned about your neurocognitive function, talk with your healthcare provider right away.
A decline in neurocognitive function is called a neurocognitive deficit. These deficits can occur as a side effect of aging or as a result of health conditions that affect the brain.
Rehabilitation can help people with neurocognitive deficits. Neurocognitive rehab can be performed by a variety of healthcare professionals, depending on a person's specific deficits. These can include:
There are two main approaches to neurocognitive rehabilitation: restorative and compensatory.
Neurocognitive rehab includes a wide variety of interventions, tailored to the specific deficits found during testing. Sample interventions for specific cognitive areas include:
Neurocognitive functions are skills that are linked to specific parts or pathways in the brain. Examples include social cognition, language, learning, memory, executive function, and perceptual-motor skills. Medical conditions that affect the brain can lead to deficits in neurocognitive function.
Standardized tests are used to assess neurocognitive skills. Limitations can be addressed with rehabilitation, either to restore function that has been lost or to help a person adapt to permanent changes in these abilities.
If you or someone close to you is having difficulties with neurocognitive skills, talk to your healthcare provider. Testing can provide a baseline measurement of your brain function or help determine if deficits are present. Be proactive with treatment. Rehab interventions can help improve your function or help you learn to adapt to permanent limitations.
Neurocognitive measures are usually standardized tests or screening tools that assess specific neurocognitive skills.
Neurocognitive testing is performed by a variety of healthcare providers. Standardized tests are used to assess skills in specific areas, such as attention, memory, and language.
Neurocognitive assessments can be performed by a variety of healthcare professionals, such as neuropsychologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other medical providers.
Stanford Medicine. Cognitive and neuropsychological tests.
McDonald WM. Overview of neurocognitive disorders. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2017;15(1):4-12. doi:10.1176%2Fappi.focus.20160030
National Library of Medicine. Neurocognitive disorder.
Salis F, M A, as. Cognitive assessment with neurocognitive screening tools. Journal of Aging Science. 2021;0(0):1-5. doi:10.35248/2329-8847.21.s5.001
Harvey PD. Clinical applications of neuropsychological assessment. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2012;14(1):91-99. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2012.14.1/pharvey
Barman A, Chatterjee A, Bhide R. Cognitive impairment and rehabilitation strategies after traumatic brain injury. Indian J Psychol Med. 2016;38(3):172-181. doi:10.4103%2F0253-7176.183086
By Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT Aubrey Bailey is a physical therapist and professor of anatomy and physiology with over a decade of experience providing in-person and online education for medical personnel and the general public, specializing in the areas of orthopedic injury, neurologic diseases, developmental disorders, and healthy living.
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.