Mild cognitive impairment is the intersection between cognitive decline associated with normal aging and unusual cognitive decline of dementia. This condition ha characterized by issues with memory, language, or judgment. The signs are pretty subtle to notice but you may discover that your mental function is a bit “slow”. Your close friends or relations may also take note but the changes are not huge enough to cause interference with your usual activities or daily life.

Mild cognitive impairment may worsen and increase your risk for later dementia or other neurological disorders. But sometimes mild cognitive impairment gets better and the condition improves in certain patients.

Symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment

As you grow older, some cognitive difficulties are expected. Thinking of a word or recalling a person’s name may take longer than usual but these are normal with age-related cognitive decline. A consistent and unexplained decline in mental performance may indicate mild cognitive impairment. These issues may be more severe than what is expected at that age. Experiencing any or all of the following symptoms may point to mild cognitive impairment:

  • Increasing forgetfulness
  • Losing track of important events or appointments
  • Losing your train of thought while speaking
  • Not being able to properly follow the thread of conversation, books, or movies
  • Increasing impulsive judgment
  • Being overwhelmed by decision-making that you’re normally used to.
  • Trouble navigating a familiar environment
  • Experiencing trouble understanding instruction or accomplishing a relatively easy task

Causes Of Mild Cognitive Impairment

There is no single cause for mild cognitive impairment. Studies show that mild cognitive impairment typically develops from brain changes seen in dementia. Some of these brain changes include:

  • Reduced blood flow through brain blood vessels
  • Enlargement of the brain’s fluid-filled ventricles
  • Presence of Lewy’s bodies
  • Reduced use of glucose by the brain
  • Shrinkage of the hippocampus
  • Abnormal clumps of protein in the brain

Risk Factors

The main risk factor for mild cognitive impairment is increasing age. Although, some medical conditions and lifestyle choices can increase brain changes resulting in cognitive decline. Medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol can increase your risk for mild cognitive impairment. Smoking, Obesity, and lack of exercise are lifestyle factors that are linked to increased risk of cognitive change.

Prevention Of Mild Cognitive Impairment

This condition can not always be prevented. But making lifestyle changes can go a long way in reducing the risk of MCI

  • Avoid head injury if possible
  • Quit smoking
  • Manage your health conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, etc
  • Eat healthy food with balanced nutrients
  • Stimulate your brain with games and puzzles
  • Train your memory
  • Increase social engagements with others

Conclusion

Mild cognitive impairment is a medical condition that causes the patient to exhibit slightly concerning cognitive decline. This is particularly concerning especially if there is no seemingly prominent underlying cause. The main symptoms are increasing forgetfulness and irritability. It is not severe enough to cause a huge interference in a person’s life. Prevention includes lifestyle changes and effective management of underlying health issues like hypertension, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol.