Twelve tips for teaching about patients with cognitive impairment.

The global population is ageing and consequently cognitive problems are increasingly prevalent. To ensure that the healthcare needs of this complex group are met, healthcare professionals must receive adequate training in this field. There are, however, a variety of reasons why this is not currently being achieved, including, but not limited to: ethical and logistical issues relating to the delivery of educational experiences involving cognitively impaired patients; a failure of curricula to keep pace with the changing demographic; societal and institutional ageism; and the inherent complexity of the conditions. This article highlights challenges associated with the delivery of such training to medical undergraduates and presents strategies to tackle these. Drawing on current evidence where available, the 12 tips below offer educators practical advice on how to maximize the value of medical undergraduates' educational experiences with cognitively impaired patients.