Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between the expected decline in memory and thinking that happens with age and the more serious
A variety of factors can cause cumulative damage to the brain with age and produce cognitive impairments. These factors include damage to the brain due to cerebral ischemia, head trauma, toxins such as alcohol, excess stress hormones, or the development of a degenerative dementia such as AD.
As a person gets older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain. Certain parts of the brain shrink, including those important to learning and other complex mental activities. In certain brain regions, communication between neurons may be less effective. Blood flow in the brain may decrease.
In patients with mild cognitive impairment, diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities are seen in various brain areas such as the hippocampus, thalamus and
When cognition is impaired, it can have a profound impact on an individual's overall health and well-being. Cognitive decline can range from mild cognitive impairment to dementia, a form of decline in abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.
Causes
There's no single cause of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), although MCI may be due to early Alzheimer's disease.
There's no single outcome for the disorder.
Symptoms of MCI may remain stable for years.
Or MCI may progress to Alzheimer's disease dementia or another type of dementia.
In some cases, MCImay improve over time.
MCI often involves the sa.
Does cognitive decline go hand in hand with aging?
Needing that extra time is normal as people age.
There is growing evidence that the brain maintains the ability to change and adapt so that people can manage new challenges and tasks as they age.
Some people in their 80s, 90s, and beyond defy the common assumption that cognitive decline goes hand in hand with aging.
How does the brain change with age?
The brain, like the rest of the body, changes with age.
Many people notice they become more forgetful as they age.
It may take longer to think of a word or to recall a person's name.
If concerns with mental function go beyond what's expected, the symptoms may be due to mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
MCI may be the cause of changes in thinking if:.
Overview
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between the expected decline in memory and thinking that happens with age and the more serious decline of dementia.
MCImay include problems with memory, language or judgment.
People with MCImay be aware that their memory or mental function has "slipped." Family and close friends also may notice changes. .
Risk Factors
The strongest risk factors for MCIare:.
1) Increasing age.
2) Having a form of a gene known as APOE e4.
This gene also is linked to Alzheimer's disease.
But having the gene doesn't guarantee that you'll have a decline in thinking and memory.
Other medical conditions and lifestyle factors have been linked to an increased risk of changes in thinking, .
Symptoms
The brain, like the rest of the body, changes with age.
Many people notice they become more forgetful as they age.
It may take longer to think of a word or to recall a person's name.
If concerns with mental function go beyond what's expected, the symptoms may be due to mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
MCImay be the cause of changes in thinking if: .
What is cognitive decline?
Cognitive decline is the gradual loss of thinking abilities such as:
For some people a small amount of cognitive decline occurs with age.
But more significant changes can be a sign of a cognitive disorder.
Injury, illness, and health habits can influence how much and how fast your cognitive abilities change over time. 