Mild Cognitive Impairment or MCI is recognized by a decline in your ability to thinking clearly. Forgetfulness or inability to recall some details may also be observed. The Mayo Clinic explains MCI as the middle stage between normal aging and the development of dementia.
However, not all cases of MCI end up being diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Some may proceed to get better. Other, however, may notice a steady cognitive decline that eventually serves as an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association highlights that about 10-20% of the people over the age of 65 may develop mild cognitive impairment. Here is more on MCI and its symptoms:
MCI Is Associated with A Dip in Cognitive Performance
Your brain, just like any other part of the body, grows old. When it does, it becomes vulnerable to cognitive disorders. Information snippets easily slip by. This is the reason why old aged people take some time in recalling names. Such cognitive decline also correlates to forgetfulness, slow decision-making, and an inability to think clearly.
The Condition Is Noticeable
The poor brain functioning associated with MCI can be easily noticed by the affected, aging individual. If he fails to notice or chooses to ignore the signs, then his family members can easily notice the decline in the brain performance of the affected person. Besides, mild cognitive impairment can also be measured via tests.
Worsening Symptoms of MCI Signal Trouble
If you notice that the brain’s performance is steadily declining, then it is a sign that you are close to developing Alzheimer’s disease. One way that is commonly used to detect Alzheimer’s is noting a person’s cognitive condition. If the testing markers show that the MCI is not normal and is getting worse with time, then the MCI symptoms may be signaling the start of Alzheimer’s disease.
Symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Symptoms of MCI include:
- Forgetting things more often
- Appointments, events, or social engagements slipping through your mind
- Feeling overwhelmed when making decisions or following through steps for completing a task
- Taking time in understanding instructions and planning things
- Losing conversation threads or thoughts or unable to follow through movies or books
- Becoming more impulsive or exhibiting poor judgment
- Trouble with finding your way in familiar environments
Owing to MCI, you may also notice signs of depression, anxiety, apathy, irritability, and aggression.
The Possible Causes Behind MCI
There is no one cause behind MCI just as there isn’t a single result. So far, research has learned that mostly the changes in the brain that culminate in MCI symptoms are the same as those noticed in Alzheimer’s.
Thus, the changes include:
- Reduced blood flow via the brain blood vessel
- An occurrence of Lewy bodies that also show in case of Parkinson’s disease
- Abnormal clusters of tau or beta-amyloid proteins in the brain
Keeping Yourself And Loved Ones Safe
It is best to take steps and make lifestyle changes for healthy aging. Use an app or get tested for learning about MCI. This will help you learn about your cognitive well-being.