Changes in memory and thinking can look different for everyone. MCI may stay stable, improve, or progress, and dementia does not advance at the same pace for every person. Knowing which health and lifestyle factors are linked to cognitive decline can help you and your family focus on the areas that may support brain health over time.
Key Takeaways
- MCI does not have a single cause, and having MCI does not mean a person will inevitably develop dementia.
- Some health conditions and lifestyle factors are associated with a greater risk of cognitive decline, although a risk factor does not necessarily cause dementia to progress faster or even develop in the first place.
- Staying physically, mentally, and socially engaged may support cognitive health, but no lifestyle strategy can guarantee that MCI or dementia will not progress.
Mild Cognitive Impairment: What Are the Causes and Risk Factors?
MCI, or mild cognitive impairment, refers to memory or thinking changes that go beyond what you might expect with normal aging but do not prevent someone from handling everyday activities independently.
While there is no single cause of MCI, evidence strongly suggests the following as risk factors for mild cognitive impairment.
Heart Health
Conditions like heart failure and coronary artery disease may increase the risk of cognitive impairment, according to the American Heart Association.
Specifically, these conditions may damage blood vessels that support the brain and increase stroke risk.
Potential management strategies:
- Keep up with routine medical care for existing health conditions.
- Take medications as directed by your healthcare provider.
- Ask your provider about changes in blood pressure, blood sugar, or other health measures that concern you.
Sleep Problems
Poor sleep can make it harder to think clearly, even without dementia, according to the NIA.
Potential management strategies:
- Tell your healthcare provider about difficulty sleeping or daytime sleepiness.
- Keep a consistent sleep and wake schedule when possible.
Medication Side Effects
Some medications can affect memory, alertness, or thinking.
Potential management strategies:
- Keep an up-to-date medication list.
- Ask a physician or pharmacist to review medications if new cognitive symptoms appear.
- Do not stop or change a medication without discussing the change with the prescribing provider.
Depression and Other Health Problems
Not every change in memory points to a neurodegenerative disease. Depression and certain medical conditions can also contribute to cognitive symptoms; in fact, the NIA identifies depression as one condition associated with a higher risk of MCI.
Potential management strategies:
- Bring noticeable changes in mood, memory, or behavior to a healthcare provider's attention.
- Note when symptoms began and whether they appeared suddenly or gradually.
5 Evidence-Backed Strategies to Support Cognitive Reserve
"Cognitive reserve" refers to the brain's ability to continue functioning despite age-related or disease-related changes. In other words, it describes the resilience of the brain.
1. Socialization
Regular socialization may keep the brain engaged, which in turn may help support cognitive reserve.
What some research says: A 2023 review of research on social participation found that greater social participation in midlife and later life was associated with a lower subsequent risk of dementia.
Limitations: The researchers in this review cautioned that observational findings do not prove social activity itself prevents dementia.)
2. Physical Activity
Movement supports overall health and may also contribute to cognitive resilience.
What some research says: An NIA-funded study of older adults found that greater physical activity was associated with better cognitive performance, even after researchers accounted for signs of Alzheimer's disease and other brain changes.
Limitations: Because the study was observational, it could not establish cause and effect.
3. Learning New Skills
Learning something unfamiliar gives your brain a reason to practice attention, memory, and problem-solving.
What some research says: The NIA reports encouraging evidence for cognitive training, including studies in which training improved certain cognitive abilities in older adults. Researchers have also found associations between mentally stimulating leisure activities and a lower risk of MCI.
Limitations: Researchers have not established that these activities prevent dementia.
4. Get Enough Quality Sleep
Sleep plays can affect how well you think and remember the next day.
What some research says: Both REM and non-REM sleep help the brain store memories, and poor-quality sleep can contribute to problems with memory and daytime thinking. Persistent sleep problems deserve attention because a treatable sleep issue may sometimes contribute to cognitive symptoms.
5. Manage Stress
Ongoing stress may matter for cognitive reserve, not just how you feel in the moment.
What some research says: One study of middle-aged women found that greater cumulative life stress was associated with lower cognitive and brain reserve, although the observational findings cannot show that stress directly caused those differences.
Researchers are also studying how cognitive reserve may help the brain respond to stress. In a small experimental study, people with higher cognitive reserve showed a lower cortisol response to a stressful situation when anxiety was high.
Limitations: Together, these findings suggest a relationship between stress and cognitive reserve, but researchers still need more evidence to determine whether managing stress can protect cognitive reserve or slow cognitive decline.
Focus on Supporting Brain Health Today
You cannot control every factor that influences MCI or dementia, and no family should expect a single lifestyle change to determine what happens next. What you can do is pay attention to new symptoms, address health concerns with the appropriate providers, and create opportunities for meaningful engagement. Those practical steps can support quality of life even when the future of cognitive change remains uncertain.
Supporting Cognitive Reserve at Belmont Village
At Belmont Village, our approach to cognitive health has grown through collaboration with researchers and healthcare institutions. Our Care Alliances have included work with organizations like UCLA, Vanderbilt University, and the UC San Diego Stein Institute for Research on Aging. These relationships have helped inform programs focused on cognitive engagement and healthy aging, including our Circle of Friends program for residents experiencing MCI or early-stage memory loss.*
Our partnership with UC San Diego has also brought aging research directly into a senior living setting through the Living Lab at Belmont Village La Jolla, where researchers can study areas such as functional ability and emerging technologies in a real-world residential environment.
FAQs
What can make dementia progress faster?
Dementia does not progress at the same rate for everyone. A risk factor for developing dementia also does not necessarily make an existing condition progress faster.
However, certain health problems can cause additional cognitive changes. For example:
- Stroke can cause additional brain injury and changes in cognitive function.
- Sleep problems can make memory and thinking difficulties more noticeable.
- Medication side effects can affect alertness, memory, or thinking.
What is the link between excess sugar consumption and Alzheimer's risk?
Some research suggests a link between sugar consumption and possible risk for Alzheimer's disease, although the link is not necessarily causal.
Which classes of medications are linked to increased dementia risk?
Research has found associations between dementia risk and some medications with strong anticholinergic effects. These medications may include certain:
- Antidepressants
- Antiparkinsonian drugs
- Antipsychotics
- Bladder antimuscarinics
- Antiepileptic drugs
Does smoking increase dementia risk?
What speeds up cognitive decline?
There is no single factor that speeds up cognitive decline in everyone. However, the CDC identifies several potentially modifiable factors associated with dementia risk, including:
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Physical inactivity
- Hearing loss
- Alcohol use
Addressing a risk factor may support overall health, but it does not guarantee that existing MCI or dementia will progress more slowly.
*Availability varies by community.
Disclaimers: This article is for informational purposes only.