Mild cognitive impairment, also known as MCI, is an early stage of memory and cognitive ability loss.
The disorder results in memory and thinking problems that are noticeable to others and more pronounced than the normal decline everyone experiences as we age. You might find yourself struggling to remember names of people you meet or misplacing household items more frequently.
However, unlike Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment symptoms do not prevent individuals from carrying out daily activities.
Many, but not all, people with mild cognitive impairment will go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease. If you have MCI, you should be regularly evaluated for reversible and treatable causes that may prevent worsening.
Experts at the Memory Disorder Clinic at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have been at the forefront of identifying mild cognitive disorder earlier to allow for more effective treatment and management of symptoms. Dementia doctors here in Columbus are responsible for developing the SAGE test – the screening tool for mild cognitive disorder and dementia used around the globe.
Our robust research program involving memory conditions, like MCI, will give you access to the latest treatments, and we’ll work to stabilize the progression of the disease or stop it altogether.
What causes mild cognitive impairment?
There are many causes of MCI symptoms. In many cases, the brain changes come from the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases that cause dementia.
Those damaging events could be the buildup of certain proteins (plaques, tangles, Lewy bodies) in the brain or strokes. However, many other conditions need to be checked as causes. There’s no single cause, just as there’s no single outcome of the disease.
Risks for MCI are also the same as dementia, including age, genetics and lifestyle factors. Depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise and smoking have been linked to the condition.
Symptoms of mild cognitive impairment
Some changes in thinking and reasoning are common as we age, but if they go beyond what is expected and symptoms become noticeable and concerning for you or loved ones, it might be time to be evaluated by one of our memory doctors.
Symptoms you might experience include:
- Forgetting names or recent events more frequently
- Misplacing items
- Getting lost, even in familiar places
- Losing concentration during conversations or while reading or watching movies
- Showing less impulse control or having poorer judgement
- Being more depressed
- Not wanting to participate in favorite activities or hobbies
- Having cognitive or behavioral symptoms that are noticeable to family and friends
Unlike Alzheimer’s disease where symptoms gradually decline and can’t be reversed, some cases of MCI remain stable for years or can be treated or reversed.
Diagnosing mild cognitive impairment
The main assessment tool to determine if you have mild cognitive impairment is the SAGE test, which was developed at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center by Douglas Scharre, MD, and other dementia specialists.
The SAGE test is used worldwide and is a testament to our unmatched expertise in diagnosing and managing care for people with mild cognitive impairment.
If SAGE test results identify cognitive issues, we can conduct a number of other assessments to rule out other reasons for your symptoms and definitively diagnose you with MCI.
Those screening and diagnostic tools include:
- A physical examination and complete medical history – We’ll ask what type of information is being forgotten, duration of symptoms and the presence of other cognitive, balance and movement issues.
- Interviews with family members
- A neuropsychological assessment – This measures cognitive abilities including memory, language, visual perception and other brain functions.
- A neuropsychiatric examination – A mental health professional can help determine if the symptoms are being caused by depression or other psychiatric issues.
- Blood and other laboratory tests
- Imagining studies of the brain – Imaging tools used include Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Treating mild cognitive impairment
Treatments for mild cognitive impairment are different depending on the diagnosis of the cause of the MCI. Several drugs that have shown promise in people with Alzheimer’s disease might be used for people with MCI.
Because we’re an academic medical center, we’re currently studying mild cognitive impairment and other dementias, so you’ll have access to the latest treatments and therapies.
You’ll be able to work with mental health professionals, occupational therapists and other experts who can help you develop habits – taking notes, setting calendars, limiting distractions – that might help your daily living.
It’s also important to remember that some cases of mild cognitive impairment are caused by certain medications so you should review your medication list with your providers.
Some common conditions, like depression, sleep apnea and high blood pressure, lead to MCI symptoms and treating those can lessen or reverse the cognitive issues.