Mild Cognitive Impairment was described by Mayo Clinic researchers in the 1990s. They proposed that a person could be considered to have “Mild Cognitive Impairment” if he:
*Complains about his memory, but doesn’t have dementia
and
*Doesn’t have noticeable problems with thinking or with daily activities, but tests worse than typical for his age on standard memory tests.
A broader term, “Cognitive Impairment No Dementia,” emerged from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging. Cognitive Impairment No Dementia is a general category for people whose problems with thinking and memory fall somewhere between “normal” and dementia.
Researchers and doctors do not agree on the criteria for a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment. They also don’t agree on whether it is a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease, or how it should be treated.
Having Mild Cognitive Impairment may put you at risk for developing Alzheimer’s – studies by Mayo Clinic researchers estimate the rate of Mild Cognitive Impairment transitioning to Alzheimer’s is 10-12% per year.
Learn More:
Tangled Neuron Posts About Mild Cognitive Impairment:
Read about the October 2007 Early Memory Loss Forum, a conference for people with early memory loss.
Other Resources
Read the Mayo Clinic’s overview of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Read a summary of trial of Aricept to treat Mild Cognitive Impairment
Books About Age-Related Memory Loss
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