There are a few health-related things that are generally inevitable as we age. We might move a little slower, require more recovery time between activities, and many of us will eventually need glasses, at least for reading. What has been normalized, but shouldn’t be so normal, is cognitive decline. This is especially when things like misplaced keys, a forgotten name, or a pause when trying to multitask can be signals of something more than just “senior moments”. Recognizing the early signs of cognitive decline, particularly Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), is the first and most critical step in seeking intervention and slowing potential progression. Understanding these signs can empower you to protect your brain health and that of your loved ones.
Cognitive Decline and the Science Behind It
Cognitive decline is a gradual decrease in cognitive function, encompassing abilities like memory, language, judgment, and reasoning. The intermediate phase between normal age-related changes and dementia is known as Mild Cognitive Impairment, or MCI. While some brain aging is normal, MCI signifies a noticeable and measurable change in cognitive abilities that does not yet severely interfere with daily life. This is a critical stage because, unfortunately, people diagnosed with MCI progress to dementia and often Alzheimer’s disease at an annual rate of 8% to 15%. Worldwide, dementia affects millions, and its global prevalence is expected to quadruple by 2050. The underlying science involves various factors, including the accumulation of abnormal proteins such as amyloid and tau proteins in the brain, chronic inflammation, reduced blood flow, and a complex interplay of genetic and lifestyle factors. By understanding and identifying MCI early, we gain a crucial window for intervention.
12 Early Warning Signs of Cognitive Decline
As already mentioned, the sooner you can get a diagnosis, the better. While we still don’t have a way to “cure” cognitive decline, we have many interventions available to slow its progression and to make sure the afflicted person has the highest quality of life for the longest possible time. Keep a careful eye out for these 12 signs of MCI and dementia, as they often signal a need for professional medical evaluation.
1. Forgetting Recent Events
It’s normal to blank on the name of a restaurant or a book title. It is cause for concern, however, when someone completely forgets a significant event or conversation that happened in the recent past. We’re not talking about just the details, but the event itself. It could be small things, like forgetting that you spoke on the phone the day prior, or bigger things, like forgetting that someone has died or that their grandkids visited them the day before.
2. Repetitive Questioning
A key indicator is repeatedly asking the same question or making the same statement, especially within a short span of time. It could even be within the same conversation. This signifies a profound inability to retain new information.
3. Difficulty Planning or Problem-Solving
Image credit: Shutterstock
This goes beyond struggling with complex issues. It involves difficulty completing familiar tasks that require sequential steps. This can be anything, such as paying bills, following a long-used family recipe, or operating a familiar electronic device like a cellphone.
4. Confusing Times and Places
Struggling to keep track of the date is common. A warning sign of cognitive decline, however, is losing track of entire seasons, forgetting or misunderstanding upcoming major events, or being unable to orient oneself in time. For example, they go to head out the door in shorts and flip flops, having forgotten that it’s winter and there’s three feet of snow on the ground, or forgetting that the next day is Christmas, despite the planning and organization that has gone into the day.
5. Lack of Visual and Spatial Awareness
This involves trouble with judgment of distance, leading to physical issues. These include misjudging steps, struggling with balance, or an unusual increase in dropping or spilling items. As the brain declines, so does its ability to coordinate these everyday tasks and activities.
6. Mixing Up or Struggling to Remember Common Words
Experiencing difficulty following and participating in a conversation because they can’t recall familiar, everyday words. These include items such as “chair”, “clock”, or “stove”. This is a sign of linguistic decline. While we all blank on words from time to time, a sign of cognitive decline is when this happens frequently and makes conversations difficult.
7. Misplacing Items and Finding Them in Random Places
While misplacing keys happens to everyone, placing them in unusual, inappropriate locations is a sign of poor judgment and altered memory function. This would include things such as putting the car keys in the freezer or their reading glasses in the microwave. Their brain is losing the ability to connect the fact that these are not logical places for these items.
8. Poor Judgment or Discernment
This sign involves the ability to perform tasks that require responsibility and foresight. Often, people with cognitive decline will begin to struggle to manage their money properly, and they will start falling for obvious scams. If they have a pet, taking care of their pet will begin to become too difficult. You may also notice that their home, which was previously always impeccably clean, is now in increasing amounts of disarray.
9. Withdrawing from Social Activities
Image credit: Shutterstock
People with cognitive decline often begin to experience anxiety in social environments and stop going to the events that they normally loved. They may stop wanting to go to church, social gatherings, or other highly social events. This is often due to either a lack of interest or a difficulty in keeping up with the conversations and complexity of the environment.
Read More: 5 Dementia-Preventing Habits for Women
10. Distinct Changes in Mood or Personality
As the disease progresses, the person may start changing in ways that make them less and less recognizable to the people they love. In the earlier stages, it often presents itself as moodiness or irritability. They can get easily irritated or upset by things that are usually common and familiar, or they may become fearful, anxious, or unusually suspicious of people and activities.
11. Getting Lost in Familiar Places
We all get lost from time to time, and some of us are certainly more directionally challenged than others. Getting lost in familiar places, however, can be an early sign of cognitive decline. A person may struggle to navigate routes or locations they have visited frequently for years. They may get lost in their own neighborhood, the local post office, or the grocery store.
12. Having Trouble Taking Care of Yourself
This sign usually starts to set in a bit later. It involves finding it difficult to maintain proper personal hygiene, grooming, or consistently adhering to a healthy diet. Again, you may notice their home getting messier, their appearance starting to slide, and changes in their cooking and eating habits.
What People Can Do to Prevent Cognitive Decline
While genetics plays a role in brain health, you are more in control of the health and longevity of your brain than you think. Lifestyle modifications are powerful tools for bolstering cognitive well-being and longevity. The sooner these habits are adopted, the more effective they tend to be:
- Regular checkups: Visit your healthcare provider regularly to monitor your overall health as well as your brain health. Discuss with them any subtle changes and assess your risk factors.
- Manage vitals: Actively manage your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, as both hypertension and type 2 diabetes are strong risk factors for cognitive decline.
- Prioritize sleep: Get adequate, restful sleep consistently. Sleep is when the brain clears out metabolic waste, including proteins linked in Alzheimer’s disease.
- Move your body: Engage in physical activity on a regular basis, preferably every day. Exercise improves blood flow to the brain and promotes the release of growth factors.
- Nourish your brain: Eat a balanced, nutrient-dense diet rich in brain-healthy foods, focusing on omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and dark leafy greens.
- Stay socially and mentally active: Find purpose in community events, engage in hobbies, and challenge your brain with new skills, puzzles, or reading.
- Maintain a healthy body composition: Work toward maintaining a healthy weight, as midlife obesity is a known risk factor.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking is detrimental to cardiovascular and brain health and should be avoided entirely.
- Consider supplements: Discuss supplements with your doctor. Certain nootropics, such as citicoline, have been studied for their potential to support cognitive function.
The Bottom Line
Cognitive decline is a confusing, overwhelming, and potentially scary process, but being informed is a powerful defense. By recognizing the difference between a normal “senior moment” and the 12 signs of MCI, you can take control of the narrative. If you or a loved one is exhibiting several of these signs, the most important action is to encourage an immediate consultation with a healthcare provider. Early detection makes a world of difference in diagnosing, managing, and intervening in the progression of cognitive decline, offering the best hope for a longer, clearer life.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and is for information only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about your medical condition and/or current medication. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking advice or treatment because of something you have read here.
Read More: Common Health Conditions Could Be The Root of Dementia