MCI vs Alzheimer's and Dementia

In the years, I’ve spent living with MCI I have struggled to find support and groups which match my needs.  This may be because there is an overlap between Alzheimer’s, Dementia & MCI.

All 3 can have varying interpretations, even by healthcare professionals, yet their meanings are distinctly different.

I’m in my 30’s and support seems to be tailored towards the Older generation and groups steered the same way.

It is my aim to try and promote the need for better support within the MCI community for those of all ages but to also clarify the difference to prevent further confusion.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

In my case, MCI is slightly more than having a “Brain Fart”, for everyone it is a cognitive change within the brain. These changes are more frequent than what is “normal” for an individual at a particular age and is usually thought of as the stage between normal forgetfulness due to age and the development of dementia.

For the most part MCI memory problems may be minimal to mild and are hardly noticeable to the person – I’ve found from personal experience that writing reminders can help for these mild changes.

Symptoms of MCI can include:

·         Difficulty performing more than one task at a time

·         Difficulty solving complex problems or making decisions

·         Forgetting recent events or conversations

·         Taking longer to perform more difficult mental activities

Importantly, a diagnosis of MCI doesn’t mean doom and gloom, you’re still able to perform your usual daily activities with minimal change and difficulty.  When this is no longer the case, then dementia becomes a more appropriate term to describe the condition.

Dementia

Dementia, unlike Alzheimer’s isn’t a specific disease.  It is a group of symptoms affecting intellectual and social abilities sever enough to interfere with daily functioning.

Memory loss, which generally occurs in dementia, alone doesn’t mean dementia.  The term dementia implies there are problems with other brain functions as well, and that more than one dementia symptom is present.

These symptoms include:

·         Memory loss

·         Language problems

·         Inability to learn or remember new information

·         Difficulty with planning and organizing

·         Difficulty with coordination and motor functions

·         Personality changes

·         Inability to reason

·         Changes in behavior

·         Apathy or loss of interest in activities

·         Paranoia

And symptoms can be due to many things such as

·         An underactive thyroid

·         Vitamin deficiency

·         Brain tumours

·         Depression

Through my own research I have also found that even certain medications can cause dementia symptoms.

However, if during a medical evaluation these reversible causes of dementia are rules out then the probable cause of dementia may be due to Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer's causes brain changes that gradually get worse. Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells, causing a steady decline in memory and mental function.

In many older people, Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of progressive dementia symptoms.

Symptoms are similar to those described above under dementia, which is why the terms are often used interchangeably.

However, dementia is simply a set of symptoms, whereas Alzheimer’s describes what is causing the symptoms.

Another reason it gets confusing is because the lines between normal age-related memory loss and mild cognitive impairment are blurred and overlap, as are the lines between MCI and early stage dementia caused by Alzheimer's.

Unlike Alzheimer’s

Unlike Alzheimer’s – where the cognitive decline is gradual – people with MCI may remain “stable” for years.

And while not everyone with MCI go on to develop Alzheimers, almost all cases of Alzheimer’s start with MCI.

It's important to note that persons with MCI do have an increased risk of going on to develop Alzheimer's disease (or another form of progressive dementia).

Science

Science, however, isn’t able to predict whether someone with MCI will progress, remain stable or improve.

Current research methods and models are focused on predicting who will get Alzheimer’s and who won’t.

I don’t have inspiring words of wisdom, or the functionality to think of way to make any of this better, what I can say is:

If you’ve been diagnosed with MCI hope for the best but plan for the worst.

**if anyone would like to help set up a support group for the under 65’s I would be happy to support it to the best of my ability**