High cognitive impairment rates among homeless people demand radical policy change

Cognitive impairment is a prevalent but often unaddressed factor in chronic homelessness, and it must be addressed to help reduce homelessness, argues the author of a commentary published in CMAJ.

People experiencing homelessness are often exposed to several causes of cognitive impairment, including fetal alcohol syndrome disorder, negative childhood experiences, traumatic brain injury, injuries from substance use disorders, and mental health conditions that can affect memory, executive function, and comprehension.

Dr. Sumantra Monty Ghosh, addiction medicine specialist and associate professor, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AlbertaReframing chronic homelessness as a cognitive impairment crisis is essential. If this foundational driver remains unaddressed, most conventional responses to Canada's homelessness crisis will continue to fail. By focusing on the estimated half of people experiencing chronic homelessness and who have substantial brain injuries, outcomes for both vulnerable unhoused people and wider communities could be meaningfully improved in Canada."

Source:

Canadian Medical Association Journal

Journal reference: