What is Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Mild Cognitive Impairment or MCI is a relatively new medical condition that describes the more general, widespread, and less severe everyday memory problems experienced by many elderely people. MCI might be a sign of the first stages of dementia but it is not a certainty that one will lead to the other. MCI can also occur in people whose memory is suffering because of severe stress, illness, trauma or depression.
About 10-15 percent of people who are diagnosed with MCI go on to develop dementia. You can find out what living with MCI is like in the 5th programme of the series Me and My Memory which goes out on Wednesday 23rd August at 0945 on 成人论坛 Radio 4.
Jacqueline Evans
My Mother, who is 71 years old, has Sjogrens syndrome. She has a history of mental illness - having had 3 severe bouts of depression during her lifetime. Her last one was 21 years ago - however just recently it has come back. I'd never thougtth to connect it to her Sjogrens. I'd be interested to know more about your thoughts on this - or to receive references for further reading.
jean
Leonard, my mums started to show signs of dementia, she has had dry eyes for years too. Thats a good point you have raised.
anon
I am only eleven years old but I love listening to the intellectual programmes on radio 4. My grandma is starting to get dementia and it is very worrying. It ruins peoples lives but my grandma is proof that people can reduce the chances of losing memory by doing things such as reading. The Memory Experience has also taught my grandma how to improve what is left of her memory
Leonard Knight
My mother suffered from Sjogrens syndrome for many years and from dementia in her last few. I think medics should give more consideration to the effects of Sjogrens on the arterial system of the brain. Many simply dismiss the disease as "just dry eyes" or some such dismissive comment.
