Mild Cognitive Impairment: Not Normal but Not Dementia

Have you heard the term “mild cognitive impairment?” If not, you are not alone. A recent survey of U.S. adults found that fewer than 1 in 5 Americans are familiar with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Mild cognitive impairment is the stage between normal aging and dementia. While some cognitive changes are expected with age, individuals with MCI are experiencing more memory or thinking problems than other adults their age. However, these changes are not significantly interfering with the person’s daily functioning, so the person is not diagnosed with dementia. MCI can be caused be a variety of diseases and conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Each year, an estimated 10% to 15% of people living with MCI go on to develop dementia.

Concerned about your memory?

If you are concerned about memory or thinking changes, we invite you to contact Insight Memory Care Center for a Memory Screening. Insight offers these screenings as part of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s National Memory Screening Program. Memory Screenings are free, confidential, and a good starting point to talk about cognitive changes. They do not replace a visit with a physician and a comprehensive cognitive assessment, but can be a good starting point to see if follow-up with a physician is needed.

Have you been recently diagnosed?

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with MCI, consider the following next steps:

• Partner with your healthcare provider to determine the cause of the impairment
• Consider involvement in a clinical trial (clinicaltrials.gov)
• Make brain-healthy lifestyle changes, such as daily physical activity, a heart-healthy diet, get plenty of sleep, engage in social activities, and seek out new cognitive activities

Speaking of social and cognitive activities…check out our Virtual Reconnections program! A few times each week a small group of people with MCI or early-stage dementia meet on Zoom with an Insight early-stage team member to engage in brain fitness exercises and discussion topics that challenge multiple areas of cognition, promote new learning, and lead to insightful conversations…and they’re fun!

Find more early stage resources at InsightMCC.org/earlystage, or contact us to learn more about MCI and Insight’s services for people with early-stage memory or cognitive changes.