Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, is a clinical state in which a person has a measurable decline in one or more areas of cognitive function that is greater than expected for normal aging, while largely retaining independence in everyday activities. The affected ability may involve memory, language, attention, executive function, visuospatial skills, or more than one domain .¹

MCI lies conceptually between normal cognitive aging and dementia, but it is not simply an early stage of dementia in every person. Some people with MCI later develop dementia, while others remain stable for long periods or improve, particularly when reversible or fluctuating contributors are present. The causes are heterogeneous and can include neurodegenerative disease, vascular disease, medications, sleep problems, mood disorders, and other medical conditions .¹

The distinction from dementia rests importantly on functional independence. People with MCI may need more time or strategies for complex tasks, but cognitive deficits do not substantially prevent independent daily functioning. Diagnosis therefore combines history, cognitive assessment, functional information, and evaluation for possible causes rather than relying on a single screening-test score .¹