A diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment can be frightening. Here's what comes next.

Furthermore, even though people with MCI may develop Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, progression is not a guarantee. Treating MCI can “extend that period of independence by months or years,” says Andrew Kiselica, a neuropsychologist at the University of Missouri who specializes in diagnosing dementia.

Lifestyle changes and adjustments

The first step in treating MCI is to look for a biological reason for a person's symptoms using blood tests, brain scans, and other clinical assessments. Many cases of MCI are caused by neurodegenerative diseases, but there are also other conditions that can affect cognition sleep apneadepression, hearing loss, cirrhosis of the liver or a Vitamin deficiency. “These types of things can potentially be addressed with treatment and may be reversible,” said Dr. Kiselica.

Even if the root cause of MCI is a neurodegenerative disease, addressing some of these “aggravating causes” can help improve symptoms, said Dr. Halima Amjad, an assistant professor of medicine specializing in geriatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. A doctor perhaps exchange medications that cause brain fog or other cognitive side effects, or for which a person is predisposed hearing aids so that they can be more socially involved. “They may not be the only cause, but if they make cognition worse, let's make it better,” she said.

There is also evidence that lifestyle interventions, especially exercise and nutrition, can slow cognitive decline. “It's almost a cliché when a doctor tells you to eat right and exercise,” said Dr. Fredericks. “But we actually have a lot of them good data that, especially in the very early stages of the disease, there is a significant amount cardiovascular exerciselike eating a Mediterranean diet” can be very helpful for cognition, but also for quality of life. Experts usually recommend this 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 90 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, plus two days resistance training.

Introduction of medication

Drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors have been used for years to treat dementia. These drugs block the breakdown of a common neurochemical called acetylcholine, which is important for attention and memory. They don't address the underlying causes of the disease, but they can help improve symptoms.