{"id":348,"date":"2023-02-14T16:05:12","date_gmt":"2023-02-14T21:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/brain-health\/?page_id=348"},"modified":"2023-02-14T16:11:59","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T21:11:59","slug":"mild-cognitive-impairment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/brain-health\/mild-cognitive-impairment\/","title":{"rendered":"Mild Cognitive Impairment\u202f"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Memory<\/span><\/b> and <\/span>reasoning<\/span><\/b> abilities are <\/span>significantly impacted<\/span><\/b> by <\/span>mild cognitive impairment<\/span><\/b> (<\/span>MCI),<\/span><\/b> yet many people with this condition are nevertheless <\/span>able to carry out daily tasks<\/span><\/b> on their own. People with MCI are more <\/span>prone<\/span><\/b> to acquire <\/span>Alzheimer's disease and related dementias<\/span><\/b> even though the symptoms of MCI are <\/span>milde<\/span><\/b>r than those of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Signs and Symptoms <\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

MCI is a condition that <\/span>occurs between normal aging and dementia<\/span><\/b>. Memory loss, like Alzheimer's, is a common early symptom of MCI. The chart below shows how signs and symptoms can manifest differently.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes and Risk Factors <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

A person's family <\/span>history<\/span><\/b>, education level, a <\/span>brain injury<\/span><\/b>, exposure to <\/span>pesticides<\/span><\/b> or <\/span>pollutants<\/span><\/b>, a <\/span>lack<\/span><\/b> of physical <\/span>activity<\/span><\/b>, and <\/span>chronic diseases<\/span><\/b><\/a> like Parkinson's disease<\/span>, <\/span><\/b>diabetes<\/span><\/b><\/a>, <\/span>heart disease<\/span><\/b><\/a>, and <\/span>stroke<\/span><\/b> are all risk factors. People can <\/span>reduce<\/span><\/b> their <\/span>risk <\/span><\/b>of cognitive impairment by <\/span>maintaining healthy blood sugar<\/span><\/b> and <\/span>cholesterol levels<\/span><\/b> and <\/span>staying active<\/span><\/b>. There is currently no cure for cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease or the dementias that it is associated with. However, some conditions, including <\/span>medicine side effects<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>depression<\/span><\/b>, and a <\/span>vitamin B12 deficiency<\/span><\/b>, can be treated. Cognitive impairment may result from certain conditions. Because of this, it's important to <\/span>identify<\/span><\/b> people who are showing <\/span>signs<\/span><\/b> of <\/span>cognitive impairment<\/span><\/b> so that a <\/span>healthcare professional<\/span><\/b> may <\/span>evaluate<\/span><\/b> them and <\/span>determine<\/span><\/b> what kind of care or therapy is <\/span>needed<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can take<\/span> several<\/span><\/b> steps to <\/span>lessen<\/span><\/b> your <\/span>risk <\/span><\/b>of MCI turning into <\/span>dementia<\/span><\/b>. You can <\/span>live happily <\/span><\/b>with MCI if you <\/span>establish<\/span><\/b> a way to deal with your cognitive impairments<\/span>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips on managing Mild Cognitive Impairment<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n