Patient education: Mild cognitive impairment (The Basics)

What is mild cognitive impairment? — Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a brain disorder that causes trouble with memory or thinking. The word "cognitive" has to do with memory and thinking. The word "impairment" means having trouble doing something.

It is normal for adults to have slight memory problems as they get older. But the problems in MCI are more significant than those of normal aging. For example, you might forget things more often than before, or you might forget more important things.

Some people with MCI later develop a condition called "dementia." Dementia is the general term for a group of brain disorders that cause problems with memory and thinking (figure 1).

Dementia is a more serious problem than MCI. People with MCI usually don't have many problems doing their daily tasks and activities. But people with dementia might not be able to do their daily tasks or activities correctly or at all.

What are the symptoms of MCI? — Memory problems are the most common symptom of MCI. Some people have other types of thinking problems. They might have trouble concentrating, reasoning, or remembering the correct word to use. It can also be more difficult to make decisions. Some people with MCI might get lost.

Some people with MCI might also feel sad, worried, or angry; act in a threatening way; or believe things that aren't true. Other people with MCI might seem less interested in activities or other things that used to be important to them.

Some people with MCI are aware of their memory changes and problems. In other cases, family members, friends, or co-workers might notice these problems first.

How can my doctor or nurse tell if I have MCI? — To tell if you have MCI, your doctor or nurse will:

●Talk with you and your family – They will ask about your symptoms, behavior, mood, and daily activities, and how these have changed over time. They will also ask about your medical conditions and medicines. That's because some medical conditions and medicines can also cause memory problems. In older adults, depression can cause symptoms similar to MCI.

●Do an exam

●Ask questions to check your memory and thinking

Your doctor might do tests to check that another medical condition isn't causing your symptoms. These tests can include:

●Blood tests

●A CT or MRI scan of your brain – These are imaging tests that can create pictures of your brain.

●More detailed tests to check your memory, language, and thinking – This is called "neuropsychological" testing because it is done to learn more about how your brain and mind are working. It involves testing how well you are able to:

•Speak

•Write and understand language

•Learn and remember information

•Use reason and logic

•Do tasks related to math and numbers

This type of detailed testing can take 1 to several hours. It is usually done by a doctor called a "neuropsychologist."

How is MCI treated? — Sadly, there really aren't helpful treatments for MCI. As of now, no medicines can prevent MCI from turning into dementia.

If you have a lot of memory problems, your doctor might prescribe a medicine used to treat a type of dementia called Alzheimer disease. These medicines can sometimes help improve symptoms. Plus, your doctor might suggest that you avoid certain medicines, which can impair thinking.

Your doctor will also talk with you about ways to keep your brain as healthy as possible. These include:

●Getting regular exercise

●Having an active social life

●Keeping your brain busy and active

●Making sure your blood pressure is not too high

Do people with MCI always get dementia? — No. Although some people with MCI get dementia later on, some do not.

There is no way to know which people with MCI will get dementia. That's why it's important to have regular follow-ups with your doctor. They can follow your symptoms to see if they change or get worse. If your symptoms do get worse, this is a sign that you are more likely to develop dementia. Although most forms of dementia cannot be treated, it can be helpful to know you are at risk. For example, if you know that your problems might affect certain daily tasks or activities, then you can get help in those areas. Plus, if you know that your condition is not likely to improve, you and your family can make plans for the future.

More on this topic

Patient education: Evaluating memory and thinking problems (The Basics)
Patient education: Dementia (including Alzheimer disease) (The Basics)

Patient education: Dementia (including Alzheimer disease) (Beyond the Basics)