99% of Docs MISS this Brain Issue
Sometimes, senior moments are just that… senior moments.
But if you find that you’re missing appointments, repeating the same questions or stories, or having trouble with problem-solving, you may be dealing with something worse.
According to a recent study, millions of Americans are unaware that they have a serious condition that could lead to Alzheimer’s.
And that means you may be missing the CRITICAL window of opportunity to benefit from early interventions.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is having memory deficits that are more severe than what would be considered “normal” for your age—but not severe enough to be labeled as dementia.
While not all cases of mild cognitive impairment progress to dementia or Alzheimer’s, having MCI DOES increase your risk. In fact, people with MCI have a 3 to 5 times higher likelihood of developing dementia than those with normal cognition.
But here’s where things get TRULY scary…
Recent research reveals that more than 7 million Americans are living with mild cognitive impairment—and don’t even know it.
This isn’t only an issue of patients overlooking the condition—but of doctors missing the signs as well.
One shocking study found that 99 percent of clinicians underdiagnose MCI.
Many factors can cause MCI symptoms. These include…
- certain medications,
- depression,
- stress,
- social isolation,
- or even heart failure.
But as I mentioned, these symptoms can also be an early sign of Alzheimer’s.
Identifying MCI and taking steps to treat it not only may improve your current memory problems but could also help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
The current treatments work best when started BEFORE the disease becomes more advanced.
If you’re experiencing memory issues that go beyond “normal aging,” talk to your doctor. Don’t give up until you can pinpoint a cause.
Then, take the necessary steps to address it.
P.S. How to use Bug Bunny’s brain-boosting secret to shield your OWN brain.
SOURCES:
Mattke, S., et al. “Expected and diagnosed rates of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in the U.S. Medicare population: observational analysis.” Alz Res Therapy 15, 128 (2023). doi. org /10.1186/s13195-023-01272-z
Liu, Y., et al. “Detection Rates of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Primary Care for the United States Medicare Population.” J Prev Alzheimers Dis (2023). doi. org /10.14283/jpad.2023.131
