Most people may identify with the experience of losing their vehicle keys or forgetting the name of a favorite performer. This particular kind of memory loss may become even more prevalent as people age.
However, in other instances, similar occurrences may indicate moderate cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease or another kind of dementia.
Alzheimer’s and MCI: What’s Going on in the Brain
The myelin layer that envelops neurons—nerve cells in charge of transmitting and receiving information between the brain and other parts of the body—is worn down in mild cognitive impairment. Retrieving memories and information may be hampered by slower neuronal transmission caused by the erosion of the protective myelin sheath. That’s usually the cause of those “tip-of-the-tongue” moments that a lot of individuals experience when they approach or beyond 60 years of age.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, MCI can either remain stable or proceed to Alzheimer’s disease or another kind of dementia in 10 to 15 percent of cases. In this instance, anomalies in two normally occurring brain proteins, tau and amyloid, are the cause of the neuronal damage. Neurons gradually cease to function completely, and the connections among them deteriorate.
The hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for storing memories, is typically where the injured neurons are found in the early stages of both MCI and Alzheimer’s disease. Later on, there may be further effects on neurons in other parts of the brain, such as those involved in language, social behavior, arithmetic, visual spatial abilities, and reasoning.[3]
Early MCI Symptoms Because of Alzheimer’s
Compared to persons who are aging normally, those who have Alzheimer’s disease frequently have more severe memory loss. They become “amnesic”—unable to recall new information—when their memory loss reaches this point. Usually, they ask the same questions over and over again, repeat things, and quickly forget what was stated in between.
It’s possible for further symptoms to appear as well. Among these include the inability to carry on a conversation, mispronouncing words, uncertainty, and trouble comprehending issues, circumstances, and explanations.
These are a few indications of Alzheimer’s:
Memory Loss That Interferes With Normal Functioning
A frequent (and early) indication of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss, especially with regard to new knowledge. The effects of this memory loss may become noticeable in later life. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, a person may lose track of appointments, prescriptions, directions to a familiar place, or bill payment information. They can make the incorrect purchases and forget what they need at home. They can drive recklessly or lose their way.
Individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease frequently report difficulty performing tasks they have done for their whole lives.
Each time, actions that had previously been doable for that specific individual were now unachievable. They have increased difficulty speaking and choosing their words. Thus, Alzheimer’s disease-related MCI might make it difficult for a person to carry on a conversation. They could pause in the middle of a sentence and start talking again or forget their meaning. Additionally, they may experience difficulties with lexical access, or the ability to retrieve words from the information stored in their brains.
Additional indicators of MCI or Alzheimer’s include losing track of time and dates, having problems estimating distances, withdrawing from friends and family, and making bad decisions (like overspending). These may all make day-to-day living difficult and even dangerous.
When to Visit a Physician
A geriatrician, psychiatrist, neurologist, or general practitioner can provide tests to assess cognitive functioning. The most regularly utilized ones are as follows:
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment includes copying shapes, naming specific items, and recalling a brief list of words.
Mini-Mental State Examination: This test involves detecting items, counting backwards, and remembering other details like the date.
Mini-Cog screening consists of sketching an image of a clock with its hands pointing to a specified time and remembering and recalling words.
In addition, a neurologist can conduct blood tests and brain scans, such an MRI or CT scan, to assess the anatomy of the brain and identify potential underlying reasons.[6] Amyloid can be detected in the brain using a PET scan. Additionally, tau and amyloid can be detected with a spinal tap, which involves taking a spinal cord fluid sample.
Getting a diagnosis as soon as feasible is crucial since early treatment with drugs that limit the disease’s course is most effective. For worrying memory loss symptoms, functional issues, and neuropsychiatric issues including anxiety, melancholy, apathy, and irritability, it’s never too early to get treatment. Likewise, don’t put off getting a diagnosis or starting treatment because you believe it will be too late.