Of those aged 60 and older, 12 to 18 percent have mild cognitive impairment. People living with mild cognitive impairment are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, and almost two-thirds of people currently living with Alzheimer’s are women.1
There are three basic forms of cognitive decline associated with aging:2
- Age-related changes in memory, which are a natural consequence of aging.
- Mild Cognitive Impairment, which involves mild memory loss such as forgetting important events or appointments, or an inability or difficulty with finding the right word in a conversation.
- Dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s disease, is a chronic, progressive, irreversible and comprehensive cognitive impairment that may affect daily functioning.
There are a range of risk factors that can lead to cognitive decline, including:2
- Increased age
- Genetic predisposition
- Smoking
- Excessive use of alcohol
- Physical and mental inactivity
- Chronic stress
- Medical conditions, such as diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol
- Low social involvement
Strategies to Help Manage Cognitive Decline
1 Alz.org, 2023
2 ClevelandClinic.org, 2023
