What is it?
Memory problems relating to important information (not forgetting where you left your wallet) without other problems associated with dementia such as confusion during daily activities.
You may have MCI if:
- Family is seeing changes in your cognitive abilities.
- You have trouble with complex tasks such as meal preparation, grocery shopping or managing finances. It may take more time or there may be more mistakes than in the past.
- You have greater difficulty in cognitive areas such as memory, attention, and language based on your age and education.
- Job or social skills are minimally impaired.
How Common Is It?
Nearly everyone experiences some cognitive loss if they live long enough. Only 10-20% of people over 65 have MCI with men being affected more than women, 5-20% of those with MCI will go onto the more severe dementia.
The good news:
Starting mentally stimulating activities (crafts, games, computer use and being socially active) in early to mid-life helps preserve cognition later.
Strength training in 55-86 year olds was shown in an Australian study to help global cognitive function.
Walking 30 min each day briskly and balance exercise such as standing on one leg have brain benefits.
Chiropractic and the Brain:
Chiropractors treat the central nervous system which includes the brain via spinal realignment.
Although we don’t have studies showing direct improvement in brain function we do know a nervous system free of irritation functions better on many levels with or without pain.
So get checked regularly.