Mild Cognitive Impairment: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Mild Cognitive Impairment is a condition that looks similar to the cognitive decline experienced as a result of aging. Even Though an aging brain and Mild Cognitive Impairment may look similar they are two completely different things.

Mild Cognitive Impairment is often seen accompanied by different mental health conditions. It is mostly seen as comorbid  with depression. It is marked by irregularities in recollecting events, difficulty in thinking properly, brain fog, etc.

In this blog we will be discussing Mild Cognitive Impairment, it’s causes, symptoms and treatment options. Shall we begin?

What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment?

Mild Cognitive Impairment is a psychological condition where you can experience low intensity but noticeable impairments or declines in your cognitive functions. Our cognitive functions are governed by our frontal lobe.

The abilities of the frontal lobe will naturally decline due to aging. When the decline in cognitive functions is not because of aging, it’s highly possible that you might have developed Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Mild Cognitive Impairment can look like frequent disturbance in your thought pattern, decline in the ability to recollect information, difficulty in keeping a trail of thoughts, etc. Let’s look at the symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment so that you can understand the condition better.

Signs & Symptoms Of Mild Cognitive Impairment

In Mild Cognitive Impairment the most influence is seen on the memory and your thinking. Although it is mild, when compared with people of the same age, these impairments are easily noticeable and may attack your sense of self.

Here are common symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment;

• Easily forgets recent events
• Tendency to ask same question again and again
• Forgets appointments, plans or conversations
• Tendency to misplace or forget where they kept their stuff
• Difficulty is choosing the right words to say in a conversation
• Difficulty in comprehending information (verbal or written)
• Easily distracted
• Faces difficulty in decision making and problem solving

Mild Cognitive Impairment is easily identifiable. All you have to do is pay attention to neither memory or your thoughts. If these symptoms occur to older adults then that is probably signs of an aging brain. It is a matter of concern only when these symptoms occur in young people.

Also read: 10 Natural Remedies For Improving Focus, Memory & Attention

The question here is why does this happen to young people, I mean what can be the reason behind Mild Cognitive Impairment at young age?

What Are The Causes Of Mild Cognitive Impairment?

Experts say that all the causes of Mild Cognitive Impairment have not been discovered yet. Having said there are a few causes that have been proven to be associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Here’s a list of the known causes of Mild Cognitive Impairment;

• Depression
• Stress & anxiety
• Sleep related disorders, sleep apnea
• Low vitamin level (B12)
• Side effects of medicinal drugs
• Substance or alcohol abuse
• Physical ailments that restrict blood flow to the brain

These are the most common causes of Mild Cognitive Impairment. Other than these if you have an unhealthy lifestyle you can be at a high risk of developing Mild Cognitive Impairment. Make sure you lead a healthy life, physically & mentally.

Also read: All You Need To Learn About Problem-Solving Therapy

Fortunately Mild Cognitive Impairment caused by all the above mentioned reasons can be cured. Let’s have a look at how Mild Cognitive Impairment can be treated….

Treatment For Mild Cognitive Impairment

Although there are no specific medications available for Mild Cognitive Impairment, it can be treated using a mix of drugs used for Alzheimer’s and some behavioral conditions like anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.

Mild Cognitive Impairment does not usually interfere with your day to day life but the comorbid conditions can intensify your cognitive impairment. The best option here is to get the comorbid mental and physical health conditions treated in order to reduce the intensity of Mild Cognitive Impairment.

So basically your doctor might prescribe you different medications to treat different symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment like anti anxiety pills, antidepressants, etc so that your condition does not interfere with your quality of life.

Other than these there are a few things you can do on your own;

• Play some memory sharpening games to enhance your memory
• Maintain a diary to keep a check on your events and appointments
• Try unique ways of memorizing things (use stickers to remind you of things)
• Work on your creativity so that you can solve problems easily
• Ask a friend/family to help you with decision making

That’s all Folks!

I hope you found this blog about Mild Cognitive Impairment helpful. Make sure you keep a check on your friends and family and if you identify Mild Cognitive Impairment, get them professional help.

Thanks for reading.

Take care and stay safe.