Alzheimer's disease, or AD, is a neurological condition that has a progressive deterioration of memory. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes that a stage between normal aging and Alzheimer's exists: mild cognitive impairment, or MCI; MCI results in a subtle change of cognition and emotions, which can affect daily living. The Mayo Clinic references the American College of Physicians, which states that 20 percent of the 70 and older population have MCI; however, not all MCI patients develop Alzheimer's.
Cognition Symptoms
Changes in cognition are the main symptoms of MCI. The Mayo Clinic states that patients with MCI who are given cognitive tests perform worse when compared to other people who are in the same age and education group. Memory problems are the most noticeable: The patient will have issues remembering recent events; when the patient develops Alzheimer's, the memory problems worsen. Other cognitive functions, like reasoning and judgment, are not affected with MCI; however, the NIH adds that the patient may have difficulty solving problems.
Impact on Daily Life
Compared to Alzheimer's, MCI does not affect the patient's ability to care for himself or function, according to the Mayo Clinic. Though when compared to people without MCI, the patient has a few more difficulties. The NIH states that the patient can take longer to perform a task and has problems with multitasking. As the disease progresses into AD, the patient loses his ability to care for himself, such as using the bathroom on his own.
Emotional Symptoms
Observers may notice a subtle emotional changes in a MCI patient. The Mayo Clinic states that the patient may develop a mood disorder, such as anxiety or depression. Aggression and irritability are also possibilities; when the patient advances to AD, she may be prone to violent behavior. Another emotional symptom of MCI is apathy, where the patient does not appear to care about anything.
