Causes of Early Onset Dementia and MCI

There are various possible causes of early onset dementia and mild cognitive impairment, which may be referred to as MCI. Both conditions may precede the development of some form of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Huntington's disease.

Definition

• Early onset dementia refers to a case of dementia in someone who is under the age of sixty-five. MCI, which stands for mild cognitive impairment, refers to a stage cognitive decline between normal forgetfulness and dementia.

Dementia

• Symptoms of dementia may include memory loss, cognitive decline, impaired speech and language capability, personality changes, behavioral disturbances, and hallucinations. Types of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.

Causes

• According to research conducted by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, early onset dementia is likely to be caused by diseases including multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s diease, lupus, or HIV.

MCI

• Those with mild cognitive impairment may have a noticeably poor memory, difficulty concentrating and performing daily tasks. According to MayoClinic.com, mild cognitive impairment may eventually develop into Alzheimer’s disease.

MCI Causes

• According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, Alzheimer’s disease is a significant cause of MCI, though Parkinson’s disease, stroke, depression, drug and alcohol toxicity, diabetes, and thyroid disorders may also be associated with MCI.