What is Severe Cognitive Impairment?

About 10 to 15 percent of adults age 65 and older are believed to have mild cognitive impairment — a condition commonly characterized by memory problems, well beyond those associated with normal aging.

Cognition encompasses lots of different skills, including perception (taking in information from our sensory organs), memory, learning, judgment, abstract reasoning (thinking about things that aren't directly in front of us), problem solving, using language, and planning.

However, what is Severe Cognitive Impairment and how does it differ from Mild Cognitive Impairment?

I heard this question the other day and like most people who’ve never heard of MCI I’d never heard of SCI.

For those with MCI it is when a person has trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that affect their everyday life.

In more severe cases, cognitive impairment is not simply forgetting people's names, and the symptoms progress to the point that it becomes difficult to live alone or take care of oneself.

People with severe cognitive impairment have a very hard time remembering things, making decisions, concentrating, or learning. Patients with severe impairment might have difficulty feeding themselves or swallowing, which can be life-threatening.

Cognitive impairment does not have a single cause, but rather could be the result of a number of different conditions.

Mild Cognitive Impairment: the facts

Did you know that EARLY identification of mild cognitive impairment can prolong the working life of older people and improve their quality of life?

With an ageing demographic and the increase of retirement age, there is a real amplified risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment within the working population.  So, what does this mean for employers?

Let us start with the facts – Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a set of symptoms as opposed to a specific medical condition or disease – though the risk of developing dementia is higher which in turn moves the patient into a different medical category.

MCI symptoms can start subtly with one or more of the following problems:

·         Memory retention day-to-day

·         Planning

·         Language

·         Attention and

·         Visuospatial skills

To be diagnosed with MCI the symptoms must have a noticeable change from the previous levels of functioning, and will often be recognised by the individual affected.

Though some of the problems will not usually interfere with your daily routine they can pose a risk of failing performance, judgement or making decisions which will have an impact on those working.

Though MCI is often attributed to the increase of age there are other factors to consider that may result in an individual younger than the “norm” developing Cognitive Problems.  These include:

·         Disturbance of sleep can have a negative impact on cognitive function

·         Depression, anxiety or stress can have a negative impact on cognitive function

·         Alcohol abuse

·         Drug Abuse

·         Some medications can cause cognitive disfunction

·         People with thyroid problems

·         Head trauma – which in my case was the cause of my MCI

In some older people, MCI can often be a sign of complications such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. It is speculated that around 70% of people with MCI will develop dementia but it is important to note that not everyone with MCI will deteriorate.  Many people remain stable and some people have been known to improve and no longer have any problems.  This just reflects the different causes and effects.

#MCI #dementia #awareness

How I Am Coping With Mild Cognitive Impairment

In my article Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Interview with Dementia Mummy and her Husband, I revealed that I have Mild Cognitive Impairment.

This article is about how I cope with this impairment, the problems I face and my feelings about being MCI.

My Memory and How I cope

These are the 5 best coping techniques I have for coping with MCI, I use many more, but I think these really are my top 5:

1.    I keep lists, I make a lot of lists of things I have to do and put them on our utility door where I am more likely to see them.

2.    I have reminders – some are on little postIt notes, you know those little yellow sticky things, and I place these in place I am likely to see them like on my laptop.

3.    I have a daily routine, which helps me to do as much as possible in the day.

4.    I ask my friends and family to remind me (and hope their memory is better than mine) but it also means I can ask for help when I need it.

5.    I write down instructions, because like when learning anything new my brain just can’t retain the information – directions are the worst, so I write everything down to enable me to follow the same instructions repeatedly.

My diagnosis and How I feel About it

When I was first diagnoses I was relieved that finally I had a name for it and I wasn’t essentially going crazy.  There is a reason why my brain acts the way it does and this I can actually explain to people.

Having done my do-diligence and research I understand that the odds are almost in my favour as only about 15% of MCI patients develop Alzheimer’s.

I don’t often think of the macabre, but I’m sure many others do and if I do develop further and go down the Alzheimer’s route would I really be aware of my situation?  Would I need to think of my own immortality? Will my brain have the capacity to process these thoughts?

Would I have the same thoughts and feelings or anxieties that maybe a terminal cancer patient would?  I often think back on the courage and strength Jade Goody showed in her last few months and wonder if I too would have that much dignity and courage.  Would I actually know that eventually I was going to die?  Aren’t we all going to die eventually, and we don’t rest on those thoughts.

How I Am Coping

I honestly believe that I am coping quite well and that I am demonstrating great strength and courage. I turned my negatives into positives and I promote a better awareness and understanding of MCI.  I just hope that I can influence or encourage others to raise better awareness and maybe one day we together can find a cure for illnesses like Dementia and Alzheimers.

#MCI #Awareness #Dementia #Courage