Mild cognitive impairment symptoms

Memory loss due to cognitive decline can result from changes in the brain associated with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is the initial stage of dementia or other cognitive impairments such as thinking ability, language skills, and concentration levels, but it is not usually severe.

According to the Alzheimer's Association of America, in some people, symptoms of MCI may be due to early-stage Alzheimer's disease or other dementia conditions (progressive cognitive decline with functional impairment).

A characteristic of MCI is forgetfulness, often not due to aging. Absentmindedness or difficulty thinking more than usual can also be a warning sign of this condition. Other common symptoms include losing things; asking repetitive questions; and being unable to follow the story in a book, show, movie, or conversation.

MCI symptoms can progress to dementia over time. Specifically, this includes more frequent loss of belongings, forgetting important life events or loved ones, difficulty conversing, trouble with reading and writing, and getting lost in familiar places.

However, not everyone with MCI will go on to lose cognitive function and develop Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia. According to the National Institute on Aging, 10-20% of people 65 and older with this condition develop dementia. In many cases, symptoms do not worsen or may even improve.

Older adults are more likely to experience mild cognitive decline, and this risk is higher if they carry a genetic variant associated with Alzheimer's disease. This rate is nearly 7% in those aged 60-64 and older, increasing to almost 15% for those aged 75-79 and around 25% for those aged 80-84.

Older adults have a higher risk of cognitive decline. Photo: Freepik — Older adults have a higher risk of cognitive decline. Photo: *Freepik*

The risk of mild cognitive decline may be higher in people with diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and depression. Other factors that may play a role in the development of mild cognitive decline include sleep disorders, lack of physical activity, and limited participation in social activities. People with a family history of Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia also have an increased risk of cognitive decline.

Drinking alcohol does not clearly increase the risk of developing MCI. However, people with MCI who drink more alcohol are more likely to experience more severe cognitive decline. The University of Washington and several other institutions tracked more than 3,000 people aged 72 and over for six years. Results published in 2019 showed that people with MCI who drank more than 14 drinks per week had a 72% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those who drank less than one drink per week.

A healthy lifestyle can help slow cognitive decline in people with MCI, such as regular exercise, eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, limiting unhealthy fats, supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish and nuts, and avoiding alcohol.

Activities that are good for the brain include reading and solving memory-training exercises. Regularly participating in social activities also reduces the likelihood of cognitive decline.

Mai Cat (According to Everyday Health )

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