What is mild cognitive impairment?
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia.
It's characterized by problems with memory, language, thinking or judgment.
If you have mild cognitive impairment, you may be aware that your memory or mental function has "slipped." Your family and close friends also may notice a change.
But these changes aren't severe enough to significantly interfere with your daily life and usual activities.
Mild cognitive impairment may increase your risk of later developing dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease or other neurological conditions.
But some people with mild cognitive impairment never get worse, and a few eventually get better.
Symptoms
- You forget things more often.
- You forget important events such as appointments or social engagements.
- You lose your train of thought or the thread of conversations, books or movies.
- You feel increasingly overwhelmed by making decisions.
- You start to have trouble finding your way around familiar environments.
- You become more impulsive or show increasingly poor judgment.
- Your family and friends notice any of these changes.
The strongest risk factors for MCI are:
- Increasing age
- Having a specific form of a gene also linked to Alzheimer's disease
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Elevated cholesterol
- Obesity
- Lack of physical exercise
- Low education level
- Infrequent participation in mentally or socially stimulating activities
Treatment at home
Mayo Clinic has introduced an effective program that shows a certain strategy to patients with this pathology and the patient's family members, friends - simple methods will help you to adapt, to manage the condition.
Recommended:
- At home, you will definitely have a number of beautiful things associated with a certain history, for example, a souvenir that you bought while traveling, a letter that your grandson sent you on New Year's Eve, and much more. Choose different subjects and remember what situation you find yourself in;
- Browse your family album. Describe the person in the photo, remember the moment, place, position of the frame;
- Prepare a delicious dish (even a simple one) and try a completely new recipe;
- It is necessary to be physically active and to spend time with exercise, to dance to your favorite melody;
- In the evening, read a book before going to bed;
- Complete a crossword puzzle or play cognitive games, puzzles, etc. to train your mind;
- Keep as active as possible, for example, calling a friend or relative and talking about a pleasant topic;
- It is good for memory if you become more organized. Mark a specific date on a calendar or keep items that you use on a daily basis in the same place.
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