What is Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a brain condition that involves subtle changes to your memory and thinking.
MCI is not a normal part of ageing. The symptoms of MCI affect you more than normal ageing, but not as severely as dementia.
MCI is only ‘mild’ compared to dementia, which affects a person more severely. It does not mean that, if you have MCI, you only have mild problems. Your MCI symptoms might be very concerning to you and your family.
You might hear MCI referred to as ‘mild neurocognitive disorder’. This term refers to the same condition.
If you have MCI you can usually stay independent and do normal tasks, by learning ways to adjust to changes in your memory and thinking.
Described by Dementia Australia
There’s no single cause of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI can be caused by a variety of factors, like:
- medication side effects
- sleep deprivation
- anxiety
- stroke or other vascular disease
- traumatic brain injury.
MCI can also arise from the brain changes that occur in Alzheimer’s disease.
To diagnose MCI, doctors conduct a review of your medical history and test your thinking and memory. Sometimes, diagnosis of MCI requires ruling out other conditions first.
Cognitive and functional testing in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Because the symptoms of mild cognitive impairment can be subtle, it’s not always easy to diagnose. MCI can also have many different causes.
A medical specialist will only make a diagnosis of MCI after careful assessment. This might include:
- a detailed medical history
- a physical examination
- blood and urine tests
- a psychological assessment
- memory and thinking tests
- brain scans.
If the specialist can rule out any other condition, they may diagnose you with MCI.
Knowing that MCI is the cause of your symptoms might be alarming, but it also confirms that there is a medical reason for what’s happening. Dementia is a brain condition that can affect thinking, memory and behaviour. Its effects are more severe than mild cognitive impairment.
If you have MCI, you’re three to five times more likely to develop dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, than others your age. This can sometimes take many years to happen. But having MCI does not mean you will definitely develop dementia. A substantial proportion of people with MCI have remained stable or even improved. There are ways to tell which people with MCI will develop dementia, and treatment options are available to some people who we know will develop dementia.
Current treatment options for Midl Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s degeneration
Donanemab (Kisunla) belongs to a class of anti-amyloid (anti-Aβ) monoclonal antibody agents intended to treat Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer degeneration. It is a humanised immunoglobulin gamma 1 (IgG1) antibody that preferentially binds to an insoluble, modified N-terminal truncated form of amyloid beta (Aβp3-x, also referred to as ‘N3pE’) that is a major component of amyloid plaques. It is proposed that by binding to the plaque, donanemab aids the removal of amyloid by cellular processing.
For patients who qualify, Donanemab (Kisunla) is delivered via an intravenous infusion, that requires nursing oversight and a small needed. (From 2026) these infusions can be performed at the Neurology Network rooms in St Kilda Rd, Fitzroy and Box Hill. This treatment is not available with PBS subsidy, so the overall costs are very high.
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a brain condition that involves subtle changes to your memory and thinking.
MCI is not a normal part of ageing. The symptoms of MCI affect you more than normal ageing, but not as severely as dementia.
MCI is only ‘mild’ compared to dementia, which affects a person more severely. It does not mean that, if you have MCI, you only have mild problems. Your MCI symptoms might be very concerning to you and your family.
Mild Alzheimer’s Disease:
Mild Alzheimer’s disease is the earliest stage. Because these changes usually happen gradually, it’s sometimes hard to notice when this stage begins. Many people get their diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease after this stage.
Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease:
Moderate Alzheimer’s disease is the next stage of the disease. Your symptoms will become stronger. You may experience significant challenges to your independence. You might require daily support.
Donanemab (Kisunla) is not available for patients with moderate AD.
Specialists at NNM.
A/Prof David Williams and Dr Melissa Tang have an interest in neurodegeneration and assessment of cognitive impairment.
All Neurologists practicing at Neurology Network Melbourne are trained in the assessment of cognitive deterioration, including its diagnosis and management.
Our Neuropsychologists work with a range of authorities and clubs to provide expert assessments and management plans..