Mild cognitive impairment is when a person starts to have problems with their memory or thinking. It can be a sign of a disease that will eventually cause dementia but MCI is not dementia and can be caused by other health problems.

What is mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?

Mild cognitive impairment is when a person starts to have problems with their memory or thinking. These may cause difficulties, but not so much that they interfere with doing everyday tasks. For some people MCI is an early sign of a disease that will eventually cause dementia. However, MCI is not dementia. It can be caused by other health problems, such as sleep disorders or the side effects of medicines.

Some mental abilities, such as memory and concentration, can become less reliable as a person gets older. This often becomes more noticeable around age 60 and older. It can be frustrating, but it rarely stops a person from doing normal everyday activities. 

However, some people feel these changes more quickly, and may become worried that something is wrong with them. If a person regularly has difficulty doing certain mental tasks they used to do very easily, it may be a sign that they have ‘mild cognitive impairment’. Mild means that, although symptoms may be troubling, the person is still able to manage themselves well and do most everyday activities. 

Cognitive roughly means 'thinking' but also includes the abilities to learn, remember, understand, pay attention, communicate, or process sensory information. Impairment means not working as well as expected for the person’s age and background.

Symptoms of mild cognitive impairment

Many people struggle with their memory or thinking from time to time. This can easily happen when a person is feeling tired, unwell or stressed. It can happen more often as they get older. However, if problems with thinking continue for more than a few months, it could be a sign that they have MCI. MCI involves problems with one or more thinking skills. For example:

• memory or learning – difficulties remembering recent events or learning new things 
• reasoning – struggling  to make decisions or work through everyday problems 
• attention – finding it more challenging to focus on a task or filter out distractions
• language – having difficulties finding the right word in conversation
• loss of interest or motivation – less interest in usual activities or hobbies. 

People with MCI often have difficulties remembering things as well as they once did. Others describe more of a ‘brain fog’ where they feel unable to think clearly.

Is MCI different to dementia?

Having MCI is not the same as having dementia. A person with MCI has milder symptoms, which means they are still able to do most everyday tasks without support. MCI can be caused by lots of different health problems, whereas dementia is always caused by a disease that damages the brain.

Dementia is progressive, which means it always gets worse over time. This isn’t always the case for MCI. There are many potential causes of MCI. Some of them are treatable and get better, while others may not.

For many people it’s not possible to know what’s causing their MCI, although it may become clearer over time. A person can develop MCI at any age. However, the risk increases greatly with older age. About 1 in 4 people in their early 80s has MCI.

Reducing the risk of mild cognitive impairment 

Although getting older is the biggest risk factor for MCI, evidence shows there may be things a person can do to reduce their long-term risk, with the right support.

These changes mainly involve keeping the body healthy and preventing damage to the brain. They include:

• being physically active
• eating healthily
• not smoking
• drinking less alcohol
• staying mentally and socially active
• looking after other health conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

It’s best to start from at least midlife, during your 40s and 50s. However, it’s never too late for the brain to get at least some benefit from living more healthily.

Tips for living with mild cognitive impairment

Some people with MCI develop useful strategies to cope with their symptoms, which can help to make everyday tasks easier and less frustrating. For example: 

• Try to do just one thing at a time and remove distractions. If you are trying to concentrate on something, turn off the television or close the window if there is noise coming from outside.
• Getting into a routine of putting belongings in the same place so they are easy to find – for example, always putting keys on a hook, or keeping a wallet or purse in the same drawer. 
• Declutter the home as much as possible. Label drawers and cupboard doors to show what is inside.
• Use a calendar, diary or reminders on a phone or tablet to help remember appointments and important events. Keeping a notebook handy can be very useful.
• Set an alarm for when a medicine needs to be taken and then tick it off on a daily or weekly checklist once done.
• If there are lots of medicines to be taken at different times, make an appointment to have a medication review. GP surgeries often have a pharmacist who can help to make medicines easier to manage. 
• Explore ways to reduce stress, anxiety and depression as this can improve thinking and memory. Be as kind to yourself as you would be to others you care about.
• Try to get enough sleep, ideally at least seven hours each night. Get help from a health professional for any sleep disorders, such as insomnia or breathing problems.
• Ask a GP or dementia adviser about memory support groups in the local area. These can help people develop strategies to cope with memory problems and stay independent for longer.