There are words whose spelling trips me up every single time. It’s like I have a mental block about them, and it drives me nuts. Why can’t I learn them and put this behind me?
Diarrhea.
Nutrition.
Vacuum.
Granted, each of these are a little weird in their own way, but why do I struggle with them year after year?
This aspect of forgetfulness may seem mild, but it’s always the cumulative effect. Struggling with spelling plus losing my keys plus forgetting an appointment that was on my calendar. When should I start to worry?
We talked about age-related memory loss. Mild Cognitive Impairment is next level forgetfulness.
Mild Cognitive Impairment
“a condition where memory and thinking problems are noticeable but don’t interfere significantly with daily life.” 1
Although diseases like diabetes and conditions like stroke or depression may increase the chances of developing MCI, it’s not a given. Although there are ways to improve your cognition and remember better (see https://smallmiracles.online/how-to-remember-when-you-are-prone-to-forget/) we don’t know a lot about why this condition develops.
Joe’s story:
Joe was almost 74. He was still working part-time. He noticed he was becoming more forgetful at work. He felt frustrated that it was so hard to find the right words to describe something. His boss told him that he missed a couple of meetings. He started to wonder if he had a serious problem. Joe’s wife took him to get a complete health check-up. The doctor told Joe that he had mild cognitive impairment, also called MCI. The doctor said there was no treatment for MCI, but that he would keep a close watch on Joe’s memory and thinking skills. Joe felt better knowing there was a reason for his memory problems. To help deal with changes in his thinking, Joe used memory tools such as daily to-do lists. 2.
Joe made several good decisions in dealing with his problem. He didn’t deny it, or resent his boss pointing out his failings. He didn’t immediately quit his job and withdraw, hoping others wouldn’t notice his struggles. He didn’t give in to fear or anger, but got help. Wise man, that Joe.
Many people with mild cognitive impairment live out the rest of their lives at this level of cognition. They can develop strategies to deal with their impairments and continue to live lives of fulfillment. In others, this is a stage in their development of dementia or other cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s. It’s important to visit a doctor, preferably one who specializes in care for the elderly, and get assessed. Regular cognitive monitoring should be a part of your medical routine if you have MCI, to help you live your best life.
What if I receive a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s? Next week we will look at what that looks like and next steps.
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/memory-loss-and-forgetfulness/what-mild-cognitive-impairment#:~:text=Some%20older%20adults%20have%20more,a%20person’s%20risk%20for%20MCI.
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/memory-loss-and-forgetfulness/what-mild-cognitive-impairment#:~:text=Some%20older%20adults%20have%20more,a%20person’s%20risk%20for%20MCI.