Healthy cognitive functioning is the key to avoiding dementia and other brain disorders. Over a lifetime, physiological changes occur in the brain that often have no symptoms, but can result in mild cognitive impairment, like changes in memory and thinking.
While a person with mild cognitive impairment is at greater risk of developing dementia, it is not inevitable.
Brain health, or cognitive health, refers to skills such as remembering, learning new things, planning, concentrating, or making decisions. When cognitive health is impaired, also referred to as cognitive impairment (CI), a person has trouble with these skills that affect the things he or she can do in everyday life.
People of all ages can experience cognitive impairment, which can range from mild to severe. A person with mild cognitive impairment may be aware of increased difficulty remembering, but it may not be obvious to others.
Most likely, these individuals can still do their everyday activities. Individuals with more severe cognitive impairment usually have difficulty expressing themselves and understanding others. They may be unable to complete tasks such as preparing meals or managing finances and may require help to manage their medicines and medical conditions.
Ultimately, individuals may become unable to care for themselves, lose their independence, and require institutional care.
When cognitive health is impaired, also referred to as cognitive impairment (CI), a person has trouble with these skills that affect the things he or she can do in everyday life.
More than 16 million adults aged 18 years and older in the United States are living with cognitive impairment.
Most adults in the United States live vital and productive lives, but an estimated 16 million are living with some form of cognitive impairment. Some are younger adults who may have cognitive impairment as a result of a head injury from a car crash or a fall.
Most people with cognitive impairment are older adults. Cognitive impairment is not an inevitable part of aging, although age is the greatest risk factor.
Signs of Cognitive Impairment
Some causes of cognitive impairment are treatable, so it is important that individuals showing possible signs of cognitive impairment be evaluated by a health care provider for appropriate care and treatment.
Cognitive impairment (CI) is defined as confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or is getting worse during the past 12 months.
Some commons signs of cognitive impairment include:
- Memory loss.
- Frequently asking the same question or repeating the same story over and over.
- Difficulty performing familiar tasks.
- Trouble coming up with the right words to name objects.
- Frequently forgetting events and appointments.
- Not recognizing familiar people and places.
- Having trouble exercising judgment, such as knowing what to do in an emergency.
