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Summary
Some forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. However, some people have more memory problems than other people their age. This condition is called mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. People with MCI can take care of themselves and do their normal activities.
MCI memory problems may include:
- Losing things often
- Forgetting to go to events and appointments
- Having more trouble coming up with words than other people of the same age
Memory problems can also have other causes, including certain medicines and diseases that affect the blood vessels that supply the brain. Some of the problems brought on by these conditions can be managed or reversed.
Your health care provider can do thinking, memory, and language tests to see if you have MCI. You may also need to see a specialist for more tests. Because MCI may be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, it's really important to see your health care provider every 6 to 12 months.
At this time, there is no proven drug treatment for MCI. Your health care provider can check to see if you have any changes in your memory or thinking skills over time.
NIH: National Institute on Aging
Diagnosis and Tests
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Cognitive Testing
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Screening for Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force) - PDF
Prevention and Risk Factors
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Cognitive Health
(National Institute on Aging)
- Nourish Your Brain (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
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Well-Aged Mind: Maintaining Your Cognitive Health
(National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
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Cognitive Health and Older Adults
(National Institute on Aging)
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How the Aging Brain Affects Thinking
(National Institute on Aging)
Statistics and Research
- Mild Cognitive Impairment and Progession to Dementia: New Findings (American Academy of Neurology) - PDF
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Scam Susceptibility May Signal Risk for Cognitive Decline
(National Institute on Aging)
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Setting Goals to Be More Active Slows Memory Decline in Older African Americans
(National Institute on Aging)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Mild Cognitive Impairment
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Enhancing cognitive control in amnestic mild cognitive impairment via at-home non-invasive...
- Article: Examination of the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Efficacy of the Online Personalised...
- Article: Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Cognitive Function in Adults 60...
- Mild Cognitive Impairment -- see more articles
Find an Expert
Patient Handouts
- Mental status testing (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish