Symptoms of mild cognitive impairment

Forgetfulness due to cognitive decline may be the result of changes in the brain associated with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is an early stage of memory loss or other cognitive function loss such as thinking ability, language skills, and concentration, but is not too severe.

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

MCI is characterized by forgetfulness, which is usually not due to aging. Being more absent-minded or having difficulty thinking than usual also signals the condition. Other common symptoms include losing things; asking repetitive questions; and being unable to follow the story in a book, show, movie, or conversation.

Symptoms of MCI can progress to dementia over time. Specifically, they include losing things more frequently, forgetting important events in life or loved ones, difficulty communicating, trouble reading and writing, 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 the condition develop dementia. In many cases, symptoms do not get worse or even improve.

Older people are more likely to have mild cognitive impairment, and the risk is higher if they carry a genetic variant linked to Alzheimer's disease. The rate is nearly 7% in people 60-64 and older, rising to nearly 15% in people 75-79 and about 25% in people 80-84.

Older people are more likely to experience cognitive decline. Photo: Freepik — Older people are more likely to experience cognitive decline. Photo: *Freepik*

The risk of mild cognitive impairment 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 impairment include sleep disturbances, lack of physical activity, and low social participation. People with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia are also at increased risk of cognitive impairment.

Drinking alcohol does not clearly increase the risk of developing MCI. However, people with MCI who drink more alcohol are more likely to have severe cognitive impairment. The University of Washington, USA and several units, followed more than 3,000 people aged 72 and over 6 years. The results published in 2019 showed that people with MCI who drank more than 14 drinks per week had a 72% higher risk of dementia than people who drank less than one drink per week.

A healthy lifestyle helps slow cognitive decline in people with MCI, such as regular exercise, eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, limiting unhealthy fats, supplementing omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish and nuts, and not drinking alcohol.

Activities that are good for the brain include reading and doing memory exercises. Regularly participating in social activities also reduces the risk of cognitive decline.

Mai Cat (According to Everyday Health )

Readers ask questions about neurological diseases here for doctors to answer

Source link