Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than normal age-related changes. If you or a loved one start to become aware that memory or mental function has been progressively worsening, this could be considered MCI, but symptoms should not be severe enough to significantly interfere with your daily life and usual activities.

Some of the signs of MCI:

• Becoming more forgetful
• Forgetting important events such as appointments or social engagements
• Losing train of thought or the thread of conversations, books or moviesl
• Feeling increasingly overwhelmed by making decisions, planning steps to accomplish a task or understanding instructionsl
• Having trouble finding your way around familiar environmentsl
• Family and friends notice changes in cognition

There is no specific test to confirm a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Your doctor will decide whether MCI is the most likely cause of your symptoms based on the information you provide and results of various tests that can help clarify the diagnosis.

Researchers and physicians are still learning about mild cognitive impairment. For many people, the condition eventually progresses to dementia due to Alzheimer's disease or another disorder causing dementia. Other people's memory loss doesn't progress much, and they don't develop the spectrum of symptoms associated with dementia.

Several medical conditions can cause memory loss or other dementia-like symptoms that can be treated. Some of the possible causes of reversible memory loss include:

• Medications: Certain medications or a combination of medications can cause forgetfulness or confusion. Minor head trauma or injury- Post Concussive Syndrome (PCS): A head injury from a fall or accident — even if you don't lose consciousness — can cause memory loss
• Mental Illness: Stress, anxiety or depression can cause forgetfulness, confusion, difficulty concentrating and other problems that disrupt daily activities. When you add medication treatments into the picture the risk for memory loss and confusion becomes even more pronounced.
• Alcoholism: Chronic alcoholism can severely contribute to memory loss directly and indirectly through alcohol induced liver dysfunction and interaction with medications.
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency: Vitamin B-12 is essential for maintaining healthy nerve cells and red blood cells. Vitamin B-12 deficiency has been found to be the cause of several neurological conditions including memory loss.
• Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid gland can result in forgetfulness and other thinking problems.
Micronutrient deficiencies can be associated with underactive thyroid, specifically the conversion of thyroxine (T4) into triodothyronine (T3).

For the treatable causes listed above you would start with treating the underlying condition. Knowing that mitochondria dysfunction and inflammation can be associated with higher risks of memory loss and forgetfulness, this provides an opportunity for helpful treatment options. Beyond traditional medical therapies there are also several research supported alternative or wellness based therapies that can have a major impact on disease treatment and prevention.

Alternative therapies work by contributing to the following:

• Maximizing health of the nervous system
• Enhancing the immune system
• Improving mitochondria function
• Improving insulin sensitivity
• Reducing inflammation
• Reducing body fat
• Increasing lean muscle mass
• Improving sleep
• Improving blood flow to the body and brain