Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Confirming a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment can be difficult. Many conditions involve MCI as an early sign. And some of its symptoms are common to many other illnesses.

Your healthcare provider will:

• Ask about your symptoms.
• Ask about your medical history.
• Review your current medications.
• Ask about your biological family history of significant memory problems or dementia.
• Perform a physical exam and mental status exam.
• Get input from a family member or trusted friend on how your mental functions may have changed.

They may also order the following tests:

• Laboratory tests: Your provider may order blood or urine tests to look for signs of infection or inflammation. They may also check your thyroid hormone levels and if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency. Sometimes, providers order cerebrospinal fluid tests (spinal tap) to check for autoimmune conditions and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Imaging tests: Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests look for evidence of brain damage, such as stroke, bleeding, tumors and fluid on your brain.
• Neuropsychological tests: These are a series of verbal and written tests that gauge your mental abilities, like general intellect, language usage, memory, learning and more.