Mild Cognitive Impairment

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KEY POINTS

• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a mild decline in your ability to think, remember, reason, and plan. You are still able to do your usual activities.
• No medicine or other treatment has been proven to help MCI.
• It helps if you continue to learn and challenge your mind, stay healthy, remain physically active, manage stress, and find ways to help yourself remember things.

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What is mild cognitive impairment?

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a mild decline in your ability to think, remember, reason, and plan. It is something that you may notice, but it may not be obvious to other people. You are still able to do your usual activities. MCI is more impairment than what usually happens with aging, but it is not diagnosed as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

MCI may be the start of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia affects brain cells and slowly causes the loss of memory and thinking skills. Over time, dementia can also cause the loss of the ability to speak, walk, remember, control emotions, and make decisions.

What is the cause?

The exact cause of MCI is not known. It may be related to genes, the environment, or your lifestyle. It may be from changes in the brain such as abnormal protein buildup, nerve cells wasting away, or other changes. Your risk is higher if you are over the age of 65, have diabetes or heart disease, or have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include:

• Memory problems, such as forgetting events, appointments, or conversations
• Trouble finding words
• Decline in your ability to plan, organize, or solve problems
• Trouble staying with a task, such as paying bills, fixing meals, or taking medicines
• Reduced interest in or motivation for doing things

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. Your provider will check for possible causes of your symptoms such as a stroke, thyroid disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, or side effects from medicines.

Tests may include:

• Blood tests
• CT scan, which uses X-rays and a computer to show detailed pictures of the brain
• MRI, which uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to show detailed pictures of the brain
• Tests to check concentration, memory, understanding, and decision making

Your healthcare provider may have you see a specialist called a neurologist, who is an expert in the way your brain and nerves work.

How is it treated?

No medicine or other treatment has been proven to help MCI. Some medicines used to treat Alzheimer’s disease may help slow down the loss of memory and function, but the medicines are not a cure. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of these medicines.

How can I take care of myself?

Challenge your mind. Mental activity may help keep your mind sharp and your memory strong. Continue to learn new skills and challenge yourself. You can exercise your mind by:

• Practicing or learning to play a musical instrument or to speak a foreign language
• Playing word games, doing crossword puzzles, or using some computer games or cell phone apps to sharpen your memory and puzzle solving skills
• Continuing with or starting a hobby, such as crafts, painting, or bird-watching
• Volunteering or finding other ways to stay involved with people
• Reading for enjoyment and to stay up to date with current events

Stay physically active. Daily physical activity can help your overall health. Mild to moderate, regular exercise helps you to be more awake and alert. If you exercise regularly, you may sleep better too. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep can affect your ability to focus and remember.

Eat a healthy diet. Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Eat sweets, salt, and snacks in limited amounts. Drink plenty of liquid every day. Most parts of the body contain water, including the brain, blood, and muscle. Lack of water can leave you feeling tired and unable to concentrate.

Avoid illegal and recreational drugs, and limit how much alcohol you drink. Too much alcohol can lead to weight gain, liver disease, brain damage, and other health problems. Women should have no more than 1 drink a day. Men under 65 should have no more than 2 drinks a day, and if they are 65 or older, they should have no more than 1 drink a day.

Manage stress. Stress and anxiety can interfere with concentration. Ask for help at home and work when the load is too great to handle. Find ways to relax. For example, take up a hobby, listen to music, watch movies, or take walks. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises when you feel stressed.

Find ways to help yourself remember things and feel more in control.

• Write it down. Use calendars, lists, or reminders on your cell phone.
• Stick to a routine. Keep easy-to-lose items such as car keys in the same place. Complete tasks in the same order.
• Set up cues. For instance, putting your keys on the stove can help remind you to turn off the stove before leaving the house.
• Slow down. You may be forgetful because you have too much on your mind. Focus on one thing at a time.

If you are worried about your memory or thinking ability, see your healthcare provider.