Mild cognitive impairment
Mild cognitive impairment affects cognition and people who experience it may have difficulties with memory or thinking.
Mild cognitive impairment is different to dementia. It may cause difficulties with memory or thinking but won’t impact on someone’s ability to live independently day to day. Lorraine Haining, Specialist Dementia Nurse, Dementia Carers Count
What is mild cognitive impairment?
The brain is a complex organ and can be subject to a range of conditions that affect it in similar ways. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is different from dementia. MCI describes a set of symptoms rather than a specific disease.
A person with MCI experiences minor problems with cognition. They may have difficulties with memory or thinking but not to the extent that it impacts on their ability to live independently.
It’s estimated that between 5% and 20% of people over 65 have MCI.
MCI can be hard to identify. Assessments often aren’t sensitive enough to detect it, but it is more than just the ageing of the brain. It can impact on a person’s well-being.
MCI does not always lead to dementia. However, it is important that it is identified so that people affected by it can be supported and receive appropriate information, treatment and advice.
Brain health
Promoting good brain health is an important factor in treating MCI. This means:
- Achieving good quality sleep
- Using stress management techniques
- Getting treatment for anxiety and depression
- Ensuring good cerebral vascular health
By paying attention to brain health, the risk profile of MCI can be managed, the symptoms reduced, and, in some cases, even reversed.
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