Hanh (48, Ho Chi Minh City) recently began frequently forgetting where she put things, repeating old stories, and occasionally having difficulty concentrating at work. Initially, she attributed these issues to work pressure or typical middle-age symptoms. However, when her daughter noticed Hanh calling acquaintances by the wrong names and mixing up parent-teacher meeting dates, the family decided to seek medical advice. The diagnosis revealed mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that could progress to Alzheimer's without timely monitoring and intervention.
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Many younger individuals exhibit signs of mild cognitive impairment. Photo: Shutterstock |
Many younger individuals exhibit signs of mild cognitive impairment. Photo: Shutterstock
Many individuals, like Hanh, are unknowingly affected by MCI. According to the Alzheimer's Association, approximately 12% to 18% of people aged 60 and older live with MCI. Of those, an estimated 10% to 15% will develop dementia each year if not treated promptly. The progression rate depends on specific risk factors. A recent meta-analysis revealed that within an average of 5.2 years, about 41.5% of individuals with MCI progressed in hospital-based studies, while only about 27% progressed in community-based studies.
Unlike Alzheimer's, people with MCI can still live independently and care for themselves. However, they begin to exhibit signs such as forgetting recent events, struggling to find words, having trouble making decisions, difficulty following conversations, going off-topic, and experiencing unusual mood swings. Worryingly, many dismiss these as normal aging or temporary stress, missing the crucial window for diagnosis, treatment, and disease management.
Dr. Nguyen Vinh Khang, from the Neurology Department of the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, explained, "Mild cognitive impairment is an early warning stage. With timely detection and intervention, patients can maintain their quality of life and limit progression to Alzheimer's disease - a neurodegenerative disease with no known cure."
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Alzheimer's silently progresses, gradually diminishing the patient's ability to care for themselves. Photo: Shutterstock |
Alzheimer's silently progresses, gradually diminishing the patient's ability to care for themselves. Photo: Shutterstock
Alzheimer's disease develops silently and gradually, starting with minor damage in brain areas controlling memory and cognition. From normal aging, individuals may transition to subjective cognitive decline, then MCI, and finally Alzheimer's. Treatment can help slow or reduce the risk of progression. In the initial stages, damage typically begins in memory-related brain regions, later spreading to other areas. In the final stage, affected brain regions shrink significantly, leading to symptoms like forgetting relatives' names, disorientation, language and emotional disturbances, and gradually losing the ability to self-care, becoming entirely dependent on others.
In Vietnam, studies estimate that about 500,000 people over 60 have dementia, representing approximately 5% of that age group. However, only about 1% of them receive a formal diagnosis and treatment, indicating many undetected or untreated cases. Experts believe that early intervention during the MCI stage is an effective approach to reduce the risk of progression to Alzheimer's.
Achieving this requires actively managing risk factors such as vascular diseases (high blood pressure, atherosclerosis) and metabolic disorders (diabetes, high cholesterol), as these affect blood flow to brain cells and directly impact cognitive function.
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Proactively managing risk factors helps control Alzheimer's. Photo: Shutterstock |
Proactively managing risk factors helps control Alzheimer's. Photo: Shutterstock
Dr. Nguyen Vinh Khang recommends regular memory check-ups using screening tools for early detection of changes in at-risk individuals. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet (rich in omega-3s, green vegetables, and B vitamins), regular exercise, adequate sleep, and engaging in mentally stimulating activities, are also key to long-term memory protection.
Additionally, scientifically validated multi-modal preventive solutions using pharmacological agents, such as Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 extract at 240 mg daily, are recommended by experts in MCI and Alzheimer's treatment guidelines. Clinical research has shown Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 to be effective in improving cerebral blood circulation, enhancing neurotransmission, and protecting nerve cells from damage, thereby slowing cognitive decline and helping prevent Alzheimer's progression.
A recent study published in the Journal of Neurology further demonstrated the role of EGb 761: stroke patients using EGb 761 for 24 weeks showed significant improvement in cognitive assessments, especially in those with mild impairment. A systematic review of 9 placebo-controlled clinical trials (946 patients) also confirmed EGb 761's effectiveness in improving cognitive function in individuals with MCI.
The Dan
