Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild Cognitive Impairment, or MCI, is one of the beginning stages of a cognitive decline that is oftentimes linked to Dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Mild Cognitive Impairment Diagnosis

This diagnosis happens in a few steps. To be absolutely sure your loved one’s diagnosis, your doctor or specialist may perform a series of tests similar to that of Dementia.

• Brain Scans
• Cognitive Tests
• Genetic Tests

Mild Cognitive Impairment Symptoms

MCI can be easily categorized by two main symptom types. Each type affects a different part of the brain and therefore has different correlating effects.

Amnestic

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment is memory specific and it refers to the decline in memory that is more severe than the average person of their age. However, the decline is not as serious to seriously affect their daily lives. While these small changes in memory and the occasional forgetfulness are often passed off as normal progressions in aging, it may indicate progressing Dementia.

Symptoms include forgetting everyday things that once didn’t require second thought such as:

• Appointments
• Recent events
• Conversations

Nonamnestic

Nonamnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment affects thinking skills apart from memory. Areas affected by this include:

• Spacial awareness
• Visual perception
• Steps to complete a task
• Decision making
• Language

With MCI, you will notice a slight change in behavior and mood, such as depression, anxiety, and mood swings.

MCI vs Dementia

While MCI is commonly associated with Dementia, it is not recognized as Dementia unless there is a worsening progression. With that said, Dementia may be a possibility down the line. 7.5% of patients develop Dementia a year after receiving a diagnosis, 15% by the second year, and 20% by the third year.

If this diagnosis does turn to Dementia, it’s important to understand the care your loved one will need.