There are no official guidelines to assist in answering this question. I will search for relevant research papers instead.
From the Research
Face Recognition Impairment in Dementia Patients
- Face recognition deficits are frequently reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are often attributed to memory impairment 1.
- However, it has been hypothesized that failure in identifying familiar people could also be due to deficits in higher-level perceptual processes 1.
- Studies have shown that people with dementia do not receive the same amount of analgesia after a hip or pelvic fracture compared to those without cognitive impairment 2, 3.
- The use of opioid analgesics in people with dementia after hip fracture is a concern, as they may receive lower doses of opioids due to uncertainty about how to treat pain in this population 3.
Potential Causes of Face Recognition Impairment
- Dementia progression is a potential cause of face recognition impairment, as it can affect higher-level perceptual processes and memory 1, 4.
- Medication, particularly opioid therapy, may also contribute to face recognition impairment, although the evidence is limited 2, 3.
- Postoperative delirium, which can be reduced with enhanced care and rehabilitation in-hospital, may also play a role in face recognition impairment 5.
Current State of Research
- There is a lack of standardized assessment instruments and heterogeneity in methods and samples used across studies, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the causes of face recognition impairment in dementia patients 4, 5.
- Further research is needed to investigate the effects of opioid therapy and dementia progression on face recognition impairment, as well as to develop effective strategies for improving outcomes in this population 2, 5.