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Newly Diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Hi everyone..I am 58 year old School Counselor newly diagnosed with MCI, based on Montreal Assesment. I have a variety of risk factors--family hx on paternal side (Grandmother, Uncle, Father) plus I have Type II Diabetes, Sleep Apnia, Peripheral arterial disease, etc.

I am scheduled for a workup--blood test, MRI, and Nuero-phsyc evaluation. Advice given was to follow MIND diet and increase exercise.

Wife and daughter were not surprised with the news, as they have noticed my 'quirks.' However, it is an unexpected added stressor as wife is primary care giver for 90 year old father who has mid stage Alzheimers.

All advice is welcome. Fianlly, Are there trials for MCI patients that focus on diet and exercise?

Comments

  • Iris L.
    Iris L. Member Posts: 4,454
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    Member
    edited July 2023

    Welcome, Howardino. You have gotten good advice regarding diet and exercise. Your risk factors can be the causes of significant cognitive impairment. Do as much as you can to get sleep apnea, diabetes and arterial disease under control. Are you overweight? Losing weight will help these conditions.


    As far as I know, there are no clinical trials that focus on diet and exercise, which we call Best Practices. Many PWDs (persons with dementia) follow Best Practices in order to improve functioning and to prolong the early stages. I myself followed Best Practices and I have done okay. Keep in mind that I do not have Alzheimer's Disease. There are clinical trials for various medical treatments.


    What are you going to do about work? Do you need work accommodations? Have you gotten any verbal or written warnings in your annual performance review? If so, plan carefully your next steps, because you could be at risk of losing your job and your employee benefits. Please keep us updated on how you are doing.

    Iris

  • Dino305
    Dino305 Member Posts: 5
    First Comment
    Member

    So far so good at work. My visual processing is strong so much of my administrative work is fine. I take notes and then enter info into computer. Thank you for your comments by the way.

  • Amy Joy
    Amy Joy Member Posts: 90
    10 Comments 5 Likes First Anniversary 5 Care Reactions
    Member

    I’m continue to suffer from early onset dementia. This is not from my own words. I’m suffering from dementia and mental health

  • Iris L.
    Iris L. Member Posts: 4,454
    Legacy Membership 2500 Comments 500 Likes 250 Care Reactions
    Member

    Welcome back, Amy Joy. Are you able to get your needs met? Are you getting help?

    Iris

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more