Quick Summary: When a loved one begins to show signs of memory loss or thinking difficulties, their family may immediately assume they are in the early stages of dementia. However, they may actually be showing signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which affects approximately 8 million older adults. MCI is not dementia, and in many cases, people with MCI never progress into dementia. Some causes of MCI are actually reversible. This article from Jewish Community Housing Corporation (JCHC) explains mild cognitive impairment symptoms, compares mild cognitive impairment vs. dementia in terms of overall impact, and highlights care and support available at JCHC’s residences in New Jersey.
When a loved one shows any signs of forgetfulness or memory loss, alarm bells start to go off in your head.
It seems like Mom keeps having trouble thinking of the right word on the phone lately.
Dad doesn’t remember his granddaughter’s birthday party? It just happened this summer.
She never finished that afghan. It’s been lying over that chair for weeks. Why doesn’t she feel like crocheting anymore? She’s done it for years.
Moments like these aren’t dangerous or disturbing, but they do worry you. You may be wondering: Is it dementia?
Many concerned family members and caregivers may immediately jump to this conclusion when an older adult shows signs of memory loss, forgetfulness, or behavior changes. However, there is another common condition that can cause problems with memory and thinking in older adults.
Researchers from USC Dornsife estimate mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects approximately 8 million adults over age 65. While MCI is not dementia and its symptoms are not as severe, people with MCI are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. At the same time, in many cases, symptoms of MCI may stay the same or even improve over time.
Determining what your loved one may be experiencing and evaluating what, if any, additional care they may need can be confusing and stressful. At Jewish Community Housing Corporation (JCHC), we’ve been helping New Jersey families navigate uncertainty and find support for their loved ones for more than 40 years. We offer four outstanding residences for seniors of all faiths and all stages of aging.
This blog dives deeper into MCI, including mild cognitive impairment symptoms and the differences between mild cognitive impairment vs. dementia.
What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which older adults have more problems with memory or thinking than other people their age. By definition, this condition may be less obvious than dementia or other forms of cognitive decline, which may be why researchers estimate that 90% of people with MCI are unaware of it.
MCI is an early stage of memory and cognitive ability loss in which cognitive changes are evident enough that others notice them, but it does not affect the individual’s ability to carry out everyday activities. There are two different classifications of mild cognitive impairment based on which thinking skills are impacted:
- Amnestic MCI: Impairment is primarily related to memory. Individuals begin to forget details they could previously recall easily, such as appointments, conversations, or recent events.
- Nonamnestic MCI: Affects thinking skills other than memory, including decision-making, timing or sequencing complex tasks, and visual perception.
The American Academy of Neurology’s practice guidelines note the prevalence of MCI increases steadily after age 60, affecting approximately 7% of adults between 60-64 and rising to more than 25% by age 80.
According to the Mayo Clinic, MCI can cause physical changes in the brain similar to those associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, but to a lesser degree. These changes can even create the same microscopic clumps of protein found in Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and some cases of Alzheimer’s disease.
What Are the Common Mild Cognitive Impairment Symptoms?
Below are some of the most common mild cognitive impairment symptoms noted by multiple healthcare sources, including the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the National Institute on Aging:
- Difficulty finding the right word in a conversation
- Forgetting recent information or conversations
- Missing appointments or events
- Difficulty executing complex tasks, carrying out plans, or making decisions
- Using poor judgment
- Misplacing or losing items
- Falling behind on bills and not keeping up with accounts
Some sources also note that people with MCI may start to have difficulty following the plot of a book or film, get turned around in familiar places, or show marked changes in mood, such as irritability or apathy, or a loss of interest in hobbies or activities they usually enjoy.
What Are the Causes and Risks of Mild Cognitive Impairment?
While the exact cause of MCI is unknown, there are certain risk factors, such as having a form of the APOE e4 gene, which is also linked to Alzheimer’s disease. However, having this gene alone does not guarantee a person will experience a decline in thinking and memory.
Other known risk factors for developing MCI include:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol, particularly LDL cholesterol
- Obesity
- Depression
- Sleep apnea
- Untreated vision and hearing loss
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Lack of physical exercise
- Lower levels of educational attainment
- Lack of mental and social stimulation
- Exposure to air pollution
Mild Cognitive Impairment vs. Dementia: How Do They Differ?
From the outside, the symptoms of mild cognitive impairment and dementia are very similar. In fact, most of the Alzheimer’s Association’s list of 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, which is also widely accepted by national and international public health organizations, appear in individuals with both MCI and dementia. However, MCI is not a form of dementia.
The standard for classifying memory and thinking problems as dementia is not what a person is experiencing, but the actual severity of their symptoms. A person’s level of functioning is the dividing line between these two conditions—a person with MCI is still capable of managing their own life, while a person with dementia cannot.
If you’re concerned about whether the symptoms you’ve noticed in your loved one are MCI or dementia, consider the degree to which these momentary lapses impact their daily life. If they can’t think of a word, do they get there eventually? Or do they make odd substitutions for words? If they miss an appointment, are they capable of calling back to reschedule? Or do they need multiple reminders to get through their day?
This chart helps break down what you may notice in mild cognitive impairment compared to dementia.
Mild Cognitive Impairment vs. Dementia: Comparing Intensity
| What You Observe | In Mild Cognitive Impairment | In Dementia |
|---|---|---|
| Trouble finding the right words | Pauses to think of a word. Gets there or thinks of another way to say it. | Forgets simple words or substitutes odd words, such as calling a toothbrush “that thing for my mouth.” |
| Forgetting information or recent conversations | Forgets a conversation or detail; is reminded of it. Relies more on notes or calendars. | Asks the same question repeatedly; forgets important dates and family names. Reminders don’t stick. |
| Missed appointments or events | Misses an event or appointment now and then. | Needs frequent reminders of a day’s events to get through it. |
| Trouble with complex tasks and decision-making | Thinking is slower and takes more effort, but it gets done. | Can’t follow a familiar recipe or complete tasks they’ve done for years. |
| Lapses in judgment | Occasionally shows lapses in good judgment. | Marked change, such as more frequent bad choices about money, grooming, or safety. |
| Frequently misplacing or losing items | Losing things more often, but able to retrace steps. | Puts things in unusual places and can’t retrace steps. Accuses people of stealing. |
| Falling behind on bills and accounts | Occasionally misses a payment. | No longer able to manage finances on their own. |
| Ability to manage daily life overall | Manages daily life independently. | Requires help with everyday activities. |
When adult children and caregivers notice these symptoms, the next question is often, “Can they still live on their own?”
Even for individuals who have mild cognitive impairment, if they are overall able to manage their daily life independently, deciding whether to move to assisted living is largely up to them. However, if your loved one is having trouble with either basic activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and mobility, or instrumental ADLs, like medication management, handling money, and doing laundry, it may be time to consider assisted living support.
At JCHC, our Lester Senior Living residence in Whippany, NJ, offers assisted living for seniors of all faiths and walks of life. We prioritize every person’s right to determine their own schedule, needs, and priorities. Our team’s approach is rooted in loving kindness and understanding, letting your loved one lead the way.
To learn more about whether your loved one needs assisted living, read our article on 5 Signs It May Be Time for Assisted Living Care.
Does MCI Lead to Dementia? Is It Possible to Slow the Progression of MCI?
Receiving an MCI diagnosis does not necessarily mean dementia is inevitable. In fact, only 10-15% of individuals with MCI develop dementia each year. Within five years, an estimated 32-42% of people with MCI progress to Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, according to a long-term study published in Neurology. Therefore, progression is not certain for everyone.
Unlike dementia, MCI symptoms may stabilize without worsening over time. In some cases, MCI is caused by another condition and may be reversible. Several conditions can produce symptoms similar to MCI, such as sleep apnea, medication side effects, depression, vitamin B12 deficiency, or hypothyroidism. Treating these conditions can make symptoms of MCI go away in some cases.
Additionally, research findings have shown lifestyle changes may help improve cognition and function. Results of a randomized controlled clinical trial published in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy showed that intensive lifestyle changes, including eating minimally processed plant-based foods, frequent exercise, reducing stress, and attending support groups, showed statistically significant improvement in cognition.
JCHC: Here for Whatever Comes Next
When you start to notice changes in your loved one’s memory, thinking, or behavior, it can feel overwhelming. The first thing to do is to take a deep breath. The next thing to do is to talk with your loved one’s physician—sooner rather than later. With cognitive decline, early intervention can help slow progression and help your loved one maintain independence longer.
When the alarm bells start to go off in your brain, worst-case scenarios may appear soon after. Remember that many people with MCI do not eventually develop dementia. Talking with your loved one’s physician and scheduling a comprehensive evaluation can help rule out possible reversible causes. Making lifestyle changes or treating the root cause could potentially alleviate or stabilize symptoms.
No matter what the future holds for you and your family, JCHC is here to help, with caring, supportive staff and residences for every stage of aging.
At our Lester Senior Living community, we offer multiple levels of living from independent living apartments to assisted living, memory care, and short-term respite care. If your loved one’s needs change over time, they can easily relocate to another part of the same community, maintaining continuity, comfort, and familiarity.
If at some point your loved one does develop Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, our Lester Senior Living residence also offers memory care support. The team at Lester specializes in the unique needs of older adults living with cognitive decline, and approaches each resident with genuine compassion. Our team will work with you and your loved one to create a personalized care plan tailored to them, honoring their abilities, preferences, and daily routines.
Whatever the future holds, you can count on JCHC to offer advice, guidance, and a listening ear. As a non-profit community, we’re not just building residences—we’re building community, dignity, and opportunity for seniors at every stage of life.
If you have questions about next steps for your loved one, contact our team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is mild cognitive impairment?
A: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which an older adult experiences more problems with memory or thinking than others their age, while still being able to carry out everyday activities independently. The changes are noticeable enough that family members and friends spot them, but they don’t disrupt the person’s ability to manage their own life. Researchers estimate about 8 million Americans over 65 are living with MCI, though fewer than 8% of expected cases are formally diagnosed. MCI is classified as either amnestic–affecting mainly memory–or nonamnestic–affecting skills such as decision-making, sequencing complex tasks, and visual perception.
Q: What are the most common mild cognitive impairment symptoms?
A: Some common mild cognitive impairment symptoms families may notice include:
- Trouble finding the right word
- Forgetting recent conversations or information
- Missing appointments and events
- Difficulty with complex tasks and decisions
- Occasional lapses in judgment
- Misplacing items
- Falling behind on a bill payment
- Loss of interest in longtime hobbies
- Changes in mood
An individual with mild cognitive impairment can still do daily independent tasks, but they may rely more on notes, calendars, and reminders to do them.
Q: What is the difference between mild cognitive impairment vs. dementia?
A: The difference in mild cognitive impairment vs. dementia is severity and functional impact, not the type of symptoms.
Most of the signs on the Alzheimer’s Association’s list of early dementia warning signs also appear in people with MCI. What separates the two is whether the person can still manage their life on their own: someone with MCI can, and someone with dementia increasingly cannot. A practical test is what happens after a lapse occurs: a person with MCI who loses their keys can usually retrace their steps and find them, while a person with dementia may be unable to.
Q: Does mild cognitive impairment always lead to dementia?
A: No. Approximately 10-15% of people with MCI develop dementia each year, and roughly one-third progress within five years, meaning that most people do not progress to dementia.
MCI symptoms can also remain stable over long periods or even improve. Some cases are caused by other conditions entirely—sleep apnea, medication side effects, depression, vitamin B12 deficiency, or an underactive thyroid—and treating the underlying cause can relieve the symptoms. This is why a comprehensive medical evaluation is the essential first step.
Q: Can older adults with mild cognitive impairment continue to live independently?
A: In most cases, yes. Being able to manage activities of daily living (ADLs) independently is what separates MCI from dementia. In terms of what additional support people with MCI may need, the decision is largely up to them. However, if a loved one is no longer able to manage activities of daily living, such as bathing, feeding, and dressing, or if you have concerns about their safety, it may be time to consider assisted living.
At JCHC’s Lester Senior Living residence in Whippany, NJ, we offer multiple levels of living from independent living to assisted living, memory care support, and short-term respite care. Should a resident’s needs change over time, they can easily relocate to the appropriate level and receive caring, personalized support from our team. Our approach is rooted in loving kindness, and we believe every person deserves dignity, respect, and compassion, regardless of their needs or personal beliefs.