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Mild Problems with Thinking or Memory

Options to Maintain Mental Capacities in Older Adults

Introduction Who and why?

Notepad A tool to keep notes and your questions to the health professional

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Mild problems with thinking or memory                                                                      

Older adults who suffer from brain diseases experience problems in a more significant way than people who are aging normally. They may experience memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. When these shortcomings are mild, people are often aware they are affected, and develop mechanisms to compensate for them.

  • CausesLearn more
    • Certain diseases can cause problems with thinking or memory: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, heart failure, stroke.
    • Depression and sleep apnea, can also cause problems with thinking or memory that resemble those experienced in mild brain diseases. When these problems are treated, mental capacities sometimes improve.
  • ProgressionLearn more

    Progression is uncertain. For every 100 people with mild thinking or memory problems... 

    • about 40 will progress to major thinking or memory problems within 5 years of diagnosis
    • about 40 will improve their mental capacities within 5 years of diagnosis, but half of those people will develop major problems later on 
    • about 20 remain stable.
  • Taking your priorities into accountLearn more

    Depending on your priorities, you may or may not decide to make a change. The choice is up to you because...

    • Progression of mild thinking or memory problems is uncertain.
    • Various options exist to maintain or improve mental capacities:
      • However, their long-term impacts on the onset of major thinking or memory problems are uncertain.
      • These options can cause benefits or harms. It is difficult to predict how they will work for you.
      • You are more likely to stick to a ifestyle change or an option that you chose yourself.
We recommend that...

We recommend that...

  • The decision take into account the person’s values and priorities
  • The decision is shared among the healthcare professional, the person and, if necessary, the caregiver

Version 1.0

Publication date : November 2018 - Evidence update: : December 2016 - Next update : December 2019