What is mild cognitive impairment?

Mild cognitive impairment is the stage between normal brain aging and dementia.  Mild cognitive impairment is actually a risk factor for dementia.  People with mild cognitive impairment are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s although, this type of memory loss will not always develop into dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Often confused, mild cognitive impairment is a syndrome, not a disease.  It is often caused by early Alzheimer’s disease, but can also be caused by:

·         Strokes

·         vitamin deficiencies

·         diabetes

·         thyroid disease

·         drugs (prescription and recreational)

·         alcohol

Why are we concerned with mild cognitive impairment?

With the aging baby boomer generation, increased development of dementia will have a huge impact on the cost of health care in this population.  Researchers feel that the medical community is not equipped to handle the influx of Alzheimer’s that is expected to occur in the next 40 years.  There can be variability in symptoms and how people present with the syndrome, so diagnosis is often difficult. 

What symptoms of memory loss should you look for?

You or your loved ones may notice memory loss affects the daily routine the most. Patients may experience subtle short-term memory changes:

·         Ability to focus and pay attention

·         Reasoning and judgment

·         Visual perception

Cognitive changes should be expected such as difficulty with:

·         Following storylines

·         Finding the right wording

·         Communicating or finding words

·         Complex tasks

·         Planning and organizing

·         Coordination and motor functions

·         Problems with disorientation, such as getting lost 

What can you do?

Approximately 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia.  Experts estimate that this number will rise to 13.8 million by 2050.  Concurrently, the cost of treating these conditions is increasing at a similar rate.

Recently, a new study from the Alzheimer’s Association found that one in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.  Keep in mind that these people die with the disease and not from dementia, meaning that often, dementia can interfere with other conditions and speed up the deterioration process.  Because of the effects on memory, patients with dementia may have difficulties remembering to take their medicine or to visit their doctor.

If you or someone close to you has dementia, recognize that feelings of anger, depression or discouragement are normal.  Perhaps seeking help from a support group will diminish these feelings, as you can speak with other people in similar situations and gain information about these conditions.