According to the Alzheimer’s Association, about 15 to 20 percent of people over 65 years old show signs of mild cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment can be a sign of impending dementia or a sign of another serious condition like Alzheimer’s. Although milder than dementia, any sign of cognitive impairment should be taken seriously. If you are in Toms River, NJ and have access to facilities for memory care like Regency, you can learn more about the symptoms of mild cognitive impairment like the following:
1. Lapses in judgment. One of the signs of mild cognitive impairment is a noticeable change in the person’s ability to make common sense decisions. For example, a person might start falling for scams or put themselves in potentially dangerous situations. The changes in decision-making and judgment might be sudden, or they might be gradual, a series of small lapses in judgment that become more noticeable over time.
2. Lapses in memory. Everyone has lapses in memory sometimes, but with mild cognitive impairment, the memory lapses might be more frequent or severe than previously noticeable. Known as “amnestic mild cognitive impairment,” the tendency to forget is a common symptom of mild cognitive impairment and may be treated differently from nonamnestic impairment (Alzheimer’s Association, 2017). You might notice the person forgetting about their appointments or even that they had just eaten.
3. Changes to language or visual perception. You might notice different speech patterns, the inability to articulate one’s thoughts as well as before, or suddenly being unable to process sensory information as effectively as the person was once able to do. If any of these signs or symptoms become evident, it might be time to get a checkup with the family doctor for a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. A series of tests can help you and your loved ones allay their fears.
