Most people over the age of 40 will notice they are a bit more forgetful and slower to learn things. This is normal and affects most people as they age. But as Dr. Nathan Herrmann, Head of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Sunnybrook points out, there could be something bigger happening if your forgetfulness starts impairing your daily functioning.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). While the majority of people will forget things now and then, a smaller number have MCI. This condition is defined when there is a memory, or other cognitive complaint by the person or their family. MCI can include problems with memory, language, concentration, problem solving, insight and judgment.
Diagnosing MCI. When testing is done, there is evidence of impairment on memory score tests when compared to people of the same age and level of education. Between 10-20% of Canadians over 65 will meet the criteria for MCI.
Will MCI Lead to Dementia? Dementia is an umbrella term for many types of memory loss that interfere with daily living, with Alzheimer’s Disease being the most common form. Studies have found that half of people with MCI will develop dementia over 5 years. However, between 20-30% patients will revert to “normal”, a finding researchers still don’t fully understand.
Ruling Out Other Causes. There could be other potential causes for changes in behaviour and memory, and that’s why it’s important to do hearing and vision tests. Obesity, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, anxiety and depression are also risk factors for developing dementia and need to be treated aggressively.
Treating MCI. Unfortunately, there are no medications to treat MCI yet. However, some lifestyle factors may play a role in stimulating the brain and slowing down the progression of MCI. These include physical activity, engaging in new tasks — like doing puzzles or learning a new language — and eating a healthy Mediterranean style diet.
