The Brain is a Muscle: Practical Strategies for Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment

(Aging Untold) — Forget where you put your keys? In this episode of The Aging Untold Podcast, our experts tackle the widespread fear of cognitive decline and they break down Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

Learn why it is not an automatic path to dementia, how reversible issues like hormone changes or UTIs can trigger brain fog and when to seek a professional evaluation.

When memory issues become a concern

Gerontologist and Aging Untold co-host Sam Cradduck said the fear of dementia leads many people to misread ordinary forgetfulness as something more serious.

“People are so afraid of dementia,” Cradduck said. “People are so afraid that they take every little lapse into, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the first signs, this is the second signs.’ And that’s not it.”

Cradduck said the distinction lies in whether memory issues disrupt daily functioning.

“Having to set reminders, that’s normal. It’s when it interferes with your daily life,” Cradduck said.

Misplacing keys, setting reminders or occasional multitasking struggles are normal, she said. Getting lost driving home is not.

Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician and Aging Untold co-host, said dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are gradual, progressive conditions, not sudden changes.

Don’t be afraid because you forget what you went into a room for, she said. If you are multitasking and you get overwhelmed, slow down and think about it so you can focus.

“But some people, they lose that ability to focus, and that’s the problem,” Rogers said.

MCI is not a permanent diagnosis

Aging expert and Aging Untold co-host Amy O’Rourke said a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, should not be cause for panic.

“People really flip out over that, but the truth of the matter is, if you’re diagnosed with MCI, there’s only a 10% chance it’s going to morph into a more serious chronic memory problem,” O’Rourke said.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 10% to 15% of people with MCI go on to develop dementia.

For anyone experiencing memory problems that affect daily life, O’Rourke recommends seeing a professional for evaluation.

“If you have something that interferes with your daily life, see a professional — neurologist, neuropsychologist — get tested, get evaluated, and then follow up with it. But don’t just project that you’re going to have a memory impairment for the rest of your life,” O’Rourke said.

Medical issues that could appear as cognitive decline

Cradduck noted that a rapid shift in cognitive function is more likely a sign of a physical or medical issue.

“If you, all of a sudden, you know, yesterday everything was normal and today it’s not, there’s something physiologically wrong. It’s not a cognitive issue at that point,” Cradduck said.

The Aging Untold hosts said symptoms resembling cognitive decline can stem from treatable causes, including thyroid issues, urinary tract infections or the effects of some medicines.

“We oftentimes self-diagnose and misdiagnose things that can be cured,” Cradduck said.

Rogers noted that hormones could be a factor as well — the brain is dependent on estrogen.

“When you start to lose that in menopause, you’ll start to see some of the foggy brain and things like that, so that can just be a quick intervention,” Rogers said.

What appears to be mild cognitive decline could also be a loss of hearing.

Hearing loss is common as people get older, and they just might not be hearing what people are saying, O’Rourke said.

Steps to protect brain health

Lifestyle habits can help minimize the effect of memory loss, including walking, socializing, eating well, getting adequate sleep and screening for infections. An MCI is not a forever diagnosis, she added.

“Sometimes that mild cognitive impairment really is something that can be reversed,” Rogers added.