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Each year, about 1 in 10 people with mild cognitive impairment develops dementia. But some people with mild cognitive impairment improve over time or stay at the same cognitive level. In fact, between 5% and 10% return to normal in terms of their thinking abilities.
Mild cognitive impairment involves changes in memory or mental function, but the changes aren't severe enough to interfere with daily living. Dementia, on the other hand, is a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities that does interfere with daily life.
Researchers are learning more about the people who have mild cognitive impairment but don't go on to develop dementia.
A review of 17 studies, for example, showed that people with mild cognitive impairment who are more likely to return to normal cognition have several things in common. The researchers found them to be younger, have more education, don’t have high blood pressure, haven’t had a stroke and don’t have the APOE e4 allele, a gene variant linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers have also learned that treating high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease can reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Many experts see mild cognitive impairment as an opportunity to act early and help delay dementia or prevent it altogether with the right treatment. Outside of medications, these steps may help slow cognitive decline:
- Treat depression — Depression is common in people with mild cognitive impairment. Treating depression can help improve memory.
- Treat sleep apnea — This condition causes breathing to start and stop repeatedly during sleep, making good-quality rest difficult, if not impossible. Getting treatment for sleep apnea can restore sleep and make it easier to concentrate during the day.
- Control high blood pressure — Blood vessel damage can cause damage to the brain. Doctors think that controlling high blood pressure and other diseases that can affect the blood vessels may help prevent dementia.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle — Evidence suggests that a healthy diet and regular physical activity may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Exercise, for example, has been shown to improve some thinking-related functions. In turn, it may delay the onset of dementia in people with mild cognitive impairment.
Join conversations about conditions that affect the brain in the Brain & Nervous System group.
Pick up a copy of Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias for a thorough guide on lowering dementia risk, along with living with dementia.
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This is encouraging.
Learning how to live w MCI
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2 ReactionsI understand the high blood pressure could contribute to dementia but what about someone with low blood pressure. A woman I know has always had low blood pressure and she had mild dementia for years before it got worse and now she has been a bed patient for this is third year now. Her brain told her to stop walking but she was able to physically. Strange the way the brain causes these things. Now it is dementia and alzheimers. Good days and not so good days. Watched this decline for 11 years now and she had issues with memory maybe 10 years before that. She is now 84 and healthy still with the low B/P.
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3 ReactionsWelcome, @agnessjmclean. Do you live with MCI?
I am learning to live with it.
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1 ReactionMy husband is definitely showing signs of MCI and balance problems leading to falls. He is going to get a Medicare annual wellness visit which I understand has a cognitive testing component to it . He will be 80 next February, goes to the gym regularly and does not have high blood pressure. He takes no prescription medications but has a history of dementia in his family. My two children are now aware of some problems with their dad and will be a good support for me.
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3 ReactionsAgness, I invite you to join @artscaping and others living with MCI in the Brain & Nervous System group. Click this link to go to the MCI discussion
- Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/new-to-mci/
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2 Reactions@healthnut76, you may wish to join the MCI caregiver discussions in this group:
- Caregivers: Dementia https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers-dementia/
You can learn from other caregivers in the group as well as other members who live with MCI like https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers-dementia/
I think you both might like to follow the Living with MCI expert blog here:
- Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/living-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-mci/
This is helpful and a little disturbing. I am 84 and when ever I question the doc about low bp(sometimes 75/56 etc, sometimes higher, (it's usually 110/60) she says don't worry...I also know that my short term memory is failing at times so I have to recheck important things or note them down...(I have always been a list-maker) Not sure if I want to open this can of worms and have the public regard me as a stupid old bat! Or disrespect me when I have something say. I am an artist and in the midst of organizing an exhibition for Aug 2024. I would like to have my A1C blood work done every 3mos. But she says every 6mos. Is good enough...This is very frustrating. I keep myself on a strick diet for CKDstage3b and pre-pre diabetis. I hate being told it's what to expect in old age....wondering if I should just give up and go to hell in a hand-basket? Eat whatever I want and open up my collection of scotch. Sorry to rant but am feeling rather pissed off and alone.
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7 ReactionsHow much exercise is required, and what type? Examples would be great.
Yes. It's has stayed the same since I was diagnosed. I gave up FT work and replaced it with a PT remote postion. I also exercise and attend yoga classes several times each week. I have a massage 1x a month and I've worked hard to let go of as much stress as possible. My blood pressure is under control. The article is encouraging.
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