An Overview of Mild Cognitive Impairment

It can be difficult to distinguish between an occasional "senior moment" and a more worrisome condition that affects memory known as mild cognitive impairment. Many doctors view this condition as a gateway to more serious dementia such as Alzheimer's disorder. Common symptoms of a "senior moment" may include forgetting why you came into a room or not remembering the name of an acquaintance. Certainly these are not red flags of anything more serious unless the lapses in memory become more acute and more frequent.

Mild cognitive impairment is generally diagnosed when memory lapses begin to affect the ability of the person affected to function without assistance. It's common for people with this diagnosis to experience frequent short term memory loss and rely more heavily on post it notes and calendars to remember events and things that they normally didn't need help to remember.

As mild cognitive impairment advances, patients can begin to experience more serious indicators of Alzheimer's disorder which can be demonstrated when the affected person can't remember names of people they know, such as a spouse, or they may become confused about what year it is or what season they are in. Many patients who suffer from dementia will dress inappropriately for the weather such as wearing layers of clothing for the summer but dressing in shorts and tank tops when there is snow on the ground.

MCI does not have to lead to these more severe symptoms though. In some patients the mild impairment of memory remains stable for decades before it advances into a more severe form of dementia, and for a few patients they actually get better over time.

Doctors suspect that the few patients who show signs of improving with mild impairment suffered from a temporary side effect caused by a thyroid condition or a lack of proper nutrition in their diets, mimicking dementia symptoms.

Patients who suffer from depression or anxiety disorder may also experience memory loss, so it is important for physician to do a thorough medical exam to rule out other conditions before a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment is made.

If you suspect you or a loved one are experiencing memory losses that are not normal, a physician can help. It is advisable to bring a friend, spouse or child who knows your symptoms with you to your appointment and a list of all medications that you are currently taking.

Your doctor may need to do an MRI to look for abnormalities in the brain, as well as a blood test to explain the memory lapse. They will also want to do a physical exam and neurological work up.

While there is currently no cure for mild cognitive impairment there is hope that an early diagnosis can mean time for the patient to prepare for the future and make decisions regarding their future care while they still are able to make sound choices. Some treatment options have also been successful in at least delaying the advancement of the disorder and are worth exploring with an early diagnosis.