What MCI is
Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, means your memory or thinking has declined more than expected for your age. You or the people close to you notice the change, and testing confirms it, and you can still manage everyday life independently. That independence is what separates MCI from dementia.
Doctors describe two broad types. Amnestic MCI mainly affects memory. Non-amnestic MCI mainly affects other skills, such as planning, language, or judgment.
Causes
MCI describes symptoms, and it has many possible causes. Early Alzheimer's disease is a common one. Others include small strokes and other blood-vessel changes, Lewy body disease, and the treatable causes of memory loss, such as medication side effects, low vitamin B12, sleep apnea, and depression. Finding the cause is the most important step after an MCI diagnosis.
Outlook
MCI does not always lead to dementia. Some people stay stable for years, and some improve, especially when a treatable cause is found. Others progress. In studies of people seen in memory clinics, roughly 10 to 15 percent of people with MCI progress to dementia each year. Testing for the biological signs of Alzheimer's helps your provider give you a clearer picture of your own outlook.
The treatment window
When Alzheimer's disease causes MCI, MCI is the earliest stage of the disease with symptoms. Leqembi and Kisunla are approved for people at this stage and for people with mild Alzheimer's dementia. These treatments slow progression, and they cannot restore memory that has already been lost, which is why finding Alzheimer's at the MCI stage matters so much.
Read more about Leqembi and Kisunla.
Living well with MCI
- Keep a regular routine, and use a calendar, a pill organizer, and phone reminders.
- Stay physically active and socially engaged.
- Manage blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, hearing, and sleep.
- Keep follow-up appointments so your care team can track changes over time.
- Put legal and financial documents in order now, while planning is easy. Our guide to first steps after a diagnosis lists what to prepare.
This guide is for education and is not medical advice. Treatment decisions are made with your provider after a full evaluation.