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What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment?

John Trevey on Jun 28, 2022

You forgot where you placed your keys.

You forgot a doctor’s appointment.

You can’t remember that acquaintance’s name.

You’re having trouble concentrating.

These instances can be alarming, especially if you’re an older adult or have a history of Alzheimer’s disease in your family. Are you experiencing the early symptoms of dementia or are you simply dehydrated, having a bad day, or feeling anxious about something?

It can be hard to know, and we tend to jump to the worst-case scenario, especially if we’ve seen a loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.

But just because you’re experiencing minor signs of memory loss or confusion does not necessarily mean you have or will develop dementia. It could, based on certain criteria, mean you are experiencing mild cognitive impairment.

What is mild cognitive impairment?

What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment? - Bader House of Georgetown

The Mayo Clinic defines mild cognitive impairment as “the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia.”1

Mild cognitive impairment will show up in basic cognitive functions, such as thinking, reading, learning, remembering, reasoning and attention span. The Mayo Clinic also emphasizes that if you’re experiencing mild cognitive decline, these issues won’t interfere with daily tasks and activities. You’ll notice them, but they won’t derail your day or ability to function normally.

1 Mayo Clinic, Understanding Alzheimer’s: Your Guide to Brain Health, p.22.

Is mild cognitive impairment a sign of dementia?

Only one in ten people who have mild cognitive impairment will develop dementia. This is because mild cognitive impairment can be caused by a number of other health conditions, including:

  • brain tumors
  • nutritional deficiency
  • autoimmune disease
  • metabolic imbalance
  • reaction to medication
  • an infection
  • substance abuse

Many who experience mild cognitive repair will not see their cognitive issues advance any further and some will return to regular cognitive functioning.

However, mild cognitive impairment can be an early sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Testing can be done to determine if your cognitive impairment is neurodegenerative, which is the destruction of nerve cells in the brain and is typically indicative of Alzheimer’s disease.

How do you know if you have mild cognitive impairment or something worse?

What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment? - Bader House of Georgetown

A doctor can perform tests to see if you have mild cognitive impairment or something less or more advanced. During the test, the doctor will probably ask you several questions and observe you as you complete certain tasks.

Being tested regularly by your doctor is key to determining whether or not your cognitive functions are improving, getting worse or staying the same, so your doctor will likely have you come back in six to 12 months to test again.

Further testing can be done to determine if you have early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s. MRIs, PET scans, spinal taps, and functional MRIs, which test brain activity rather than the structure of the brain, can help determine if you’re showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

To learn more about this type of testing, read our article “Finding Alzheimer’s Disease Before Symptoms Appear.”

What causes mild cognitive impairment?

As mentioned above, dementia is not the only cause of mild cognitive impairment. A number of health issues can lead to mild cognitive development. In addition to the previous list, vascular impairments, which affect the brain’s blood vessels, can lead to mild cognitive impairment because a limited blood supply to the brain greatly affects our cognitive ability.

Sleep problems caused by insomnia, sleep apnea, or mental health issues can also contribute to mild cognitive impairment. Depression and mental illness are also known to cause mild cognitive impairment.

A doctor can help diagnose what is causing you to experience mild cognitive impairment. From there, you can decide on a course of treatment.

Can you prevent mild cognitive impairment?

Certain lifestyle choices can aid in preventing the development of mild cognitive impairment, including:

  • eating a nutrient-dense diet
  • regular aerobic exercise
  • prioritizing sleep
  • not smoking or drinking excessively
  • maintaining a healthy social life
  • managing any chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity
  • taking care of your mental health and seeking treatment for depression

Memory slips and forgetfulness can be alarming, but they aren’t necessarily signs of dementia.

Talk to your doctor and see if testing would be a good option for you. Early intervention is crucial for memory loss. Seeking help now could prevent, or help deter further cognitive impairment.

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Plano, TX 75075

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Call us for more information

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1667 W. Plano Parkway
Plano, TX 75075

Have more questions?

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Covid Information

Continuing an Environment of Caring in Times of COVID-19


Safety of Residents and Staff

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, our communities are focused on keeping our Residents and staff safe while also maintaining Resident engagement and daily fulfillment. We are taking a cautious approach, balancing the highest level of safety within the least restrictive environment.

We will continue to follow and augment State and C.D.C. safety recommendations:

Screening: We screen every employee every day. We require our staff to complete a questionnaire (inquiring about possible symptoms, recent travel and exposure), have their temperature and oxygen level checked before entering the building. Staff are also required to clean their cell phones, keys and wash their hands while being observed. We monitor our Residents’ health closely with temperature and oxygen level checks at least twice a day. We help our Residents wash their hands throughout the day and encourage them to wear a mask or face covering.

Cleaning: We have enhanced our cleaning products with regard for their effectiveness in killing COVID-19 particles and proper sanitization and disinfection, using the EPA’s specific list of disinfectants for use against the coronavirus. We are using this list and training staff on how long cleaning solutions must be kept on a surface before wiping it off to ensure its effectiveness. We prioritize cleaning high-touch areas and horizontal surfaces, cleaning them several times a day.

Physical Distancing: We encourage 6 foot distancing between Residents and with staff unless they are providing direct care to a Resident.

Testing: We test all Residents and staff for COVID-19 every three weeks, and more as needed. Our nurses utilize a PCR test, which we send to a private lab to expedite results.

Physical Changes: We have installed ultraviolet lights in our air conditioners that supply air to the common areas of the houses. This method is believed to be helpful in killing bacteria that is cycled through the systems and pushed back into the house. We’ve also enhanced our HVAC filters to near HEPA levels, trying to add additional layers of protection to keep COVID-19 out of the building. Most importantly, air purifiers have been added to common areas and each resident room.

PPE: Staff members wear masks at all times and we encourage Residents to wear masks when outside their rooms. We also encourage physical distancing between our Residents. Staff wears additional protective equipment when deemed necessary while caring for our Residents. Staff are continually trained on when and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Individual Needs Stay Paramount

The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 affects us all. At our communities, we are not letting it stop us from safely offering a life well-lived. Above all, we are providing the utmost attention to the safety and well-being of our Residents. Our Program has always revolved around the individualized needs of each Resident and this has not changed during COVID-19. Residents are still able to connect with each other and staff while maintaining a safe physical distance. Weather permitting, we enjoy the patio and large backyard. We continue to keep our Residents engaged through cognitive, physical, recreational experiences. We offer enjoyment and connection throughout the day even during these unprecedented times.

Visitors

Since early March we have restricted facility access to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Essential Visitors: Healthcare providers including physicians, home health, private duty services, physical therapy and hospice staff have not been allowed in the communities unless there is an acute, essential need for our Residents. These services continue as needed through FaceTime, tele-med and phone conversations. If physical access is absolutely necessary, the individual will complete our questionnaire and screening for temperature and oxygen stats. No one is allowed in the community if they fail to meet our screening criteria.

Families: We are happy to help schedule window visits, FaceTime, Zoom and phone calls with your loved ones based on what is allowed and prudent. To ensure the proper support from our staff, our visits are scheduled ahead of time.

Tours and Move-Ins

Tours: We recognize that regardless of the changes with COVID-19, your need for senior living hasn’t changed. For the safety of you, our Residents and staff, we are currently offering virtual tours where you can see our community, as well as meet our staff. Please contact our Community Relations Director to set up a virtual tour.

Move-Ins: We are accepting a limited number of move-ins (unless otherwise instructed by public health department). New Residents must be tested for COVID-19 prior to move-in. Upon admission, we will place a new resident in their room to quarantine as an additional precaution.

We will share community-specific information with residents and families as our quarantine measures continue to evolve with new information of COVID-19.

We are honored to care for your family member and loved one.

 

Comments we’ve received from our families during COVID-19.

“We appreciate all of your efforts. Your team clearly is a leader in the response to COVID. Thank you for keeping our loved ones safe.”

Joseph

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL you have done and are doing to keep the residents and staff in a safe environment! The continuous learning and improvements empower caregivers and families to do better at home and in our communities.”

Tommy

“I appreciate you taking the time to update us and share them with my family living in AL, GA, VA, MD, FL…we are extremely grateful and comforted by your proactive and decisive measures! We’ll continue to keep you in prayer for health, safety and more.”

Rebecca

“In keeping with the parade theme you had, the employees there are super heroes. They are plowing forward in the midst of this horrible virus and taking care of their patients selflessly. I just wanted to acknowledge their bravery and dedication and thank them from the bottom of my heart for the goodness in their hearts and their dedication to their patients and jobs.”

Abigail

“Thank you! You locked down early & your diligence has paid well.

The Bader support group continues meeting once a month by Zoom. We all appreciate you so much. Everyone comments on how grateful we are that our parents are at Bader House!

We appreciate everything: sending us pictures, calls, alerts to bring supplies/clothes as needed, staying in virtual contact with hospice.
Blessings to each of you.”

Marsha

“Thank you for all y’all and all the staff are doing for my mom and the other residents. We truly appreciate your hard work.”

Carol

Bader House Memory Care Plano
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