WHAT COGNITIVE CHANGES CAN MEAN FOR SOMEONE LIVING WITH PD

 

As many as 20-50% of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are also living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) — but what exactly does that mean?

MCI is an early stage of cognitive difficulty that does not interfere with a person’s usual capacity to perform daily activities independently. This means that compared to someone of a similar age and education level, someone with MCI could face difficulty with attention, multitasking, or memory, among other cognitive skills — but still function with minimal issues throughout the day.

If you suspect you or a loved one with PD might have MCI, the first stop should be the doctor’s office. Medical issues such as thyroid disease, depression, or even a vitamin B12 deficiency can all mimic the signs of MCI in PD — and if that cause is reversible, it’s wise to take action as soon as possible.

Though there’s still much to be studied when it comes to MCI in PD, people living with MCI are more likely to develop dementia over time. Some studies suggest that the rate at which individuals living with MCI develop dementia over a five-year period could be as high as 50% — but there is also evidence to suggest that as many as 10% of people with MCI return to normal levels of cognition over time.

The issue of MCI in the PD community is a complicated one and warrants further study. There are currently a number of active clinical trials testing various potential new drugs for MCI in PD, and we hope that a new treatment will emerge from these trials. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial for PD, talk with your neurologist. In addition, there are certain strategies that can help alleviate the effects of MCI on your day-to-day life — such as writing down important information that you need to remember and only tackling one cognitive task at a time. When it comes to PD and MCI, be sure to challenge yourself — learn a new skill, stay socially engaged, and find ways to stay mentally active!

But no matter the symptoms, people with PD will never have to face their journey alone. Supporters like you make it possible for APDA to provide the trusted educational resources the PD community can rely on. If you would like to learn more about MCI, visit our website. And to start tracking your PD symptoms, check out our free APDA Symptom Tracker.