Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) describes a condition where people have poorer memory and thinking skills compared to other people their age but with minimal effects on typical daily tasks. This is sometimes caused by reversible factors like medication side effects, alcohol, poor sleep, and head injuries. But mild cognitive impairment is also the earliest detectable sign of the progressive cognitive decline associated with forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, it is an important condition to detect to prevent the cognitive impairments from becoming sufficient to impair a person’s independence and ability to perform typical daily tasks.[1][2][3]
What is mild cognitive impairment?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Mild cognitive impairment is a condition characterized by poorer memory and thinking skills compared to peers, with minimal impact on daily tasks. It can be caused by reversible factors and is also an early indicator of progressive cognitive decline associated with dementia, which makes early detection crucial to maintaining independence.