Learning
Mild cognitive impairment
MCI is the in-between space — symptoms beyond normal aging, but not yet dementia. About 1 in 3 MCI patients progress to dementia within 5 years. Early action matters.
Updated 2026-02-20
Written and clinically reviewed by Ashlee Skabla Velez, APRN, ACNPC-AG
Dementia care and caregiver-support specialist
Need help applying this to your situation?
What MCI looks like
- Forgetfulness others notice.
- Still independent in daily activities.
- Cognitive testing shows specific deficits.
- Symptoms aren't due to delirium, medication, or depression.
What to do now
- Get a biomarker workup — amyloid PET or CSF — to know if Alzheimer's pathology is present.
- If amyloid-positive and early — Lecanemab or Donanemab may be options.
- Audit medications with a pharmacist.
- Treat sleep apnea, depression, hearing loss aggressively.
- Sign POA + healthcare proxy while easy.
Frequently asked questions
- Does everyone with MCI get dementia?
- No. About a third progress within 5 years, a third stay stable, a third revert to normal.
Every dementia journey is different.
Memory Lane Care helps you understand what applies to your loved one, what to expect next, and which resources fit your family's situation.
Need help applying this to your situation?
Related across the journey
Memory Lane connects every part of dementia care. Here's how this topic threads into the rest.
Behavior Guidance
Paying for Care
Keep reading
Learning
What is dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term for a decline in memory, thinking, or behavior serious enough to interfere with daily life. It is not a normal part of aging.
Learning
Alzheimer's vs dementia — what's the difference?
Dementia describes the symptoms. Alzheimer's is one specific disease that causes them — the most common one, but not the only one.
Treatments
Lecanemab (Leqembi)
Lecanemab is one of the first FDA-approved infusions that clears amyloid plaques from the brain. It's not a cure — it slows decline modestly in early Alzheimer's.
Hard Conversations
Power of attorney — the conversation with a clock
POA can only be signed while your loved one still has capacity. The moment they lose it, your only path is guardianship — slow, expensive, public.
Learning
Dementia medications
No medication cures dementia. Several slow decline modestly, two slow disease progression in early Alzheimer's, and many treat behavioral symptoms. Setting expectations matters.
Learning
Lewy body dementia
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the third most common dementia. It shows up differently — visual hallucinations, sleep behaviors, Parkinson-like stiffness — and is dangerous to treat with the wrong medications.
Treatments
Donanemab (Kisunla)
Donanemab is the second FDA-approved amyloid-clearing infusion for early Alzheimer's. Unlike Lecanemab, it stops once amyloid is cleared from the brain.
Learning
The stages of dementia
Dementia is progressive — symptoms worsen over time — but the path is never identical between people. Knowing the stages helps you plan, not predict.