Is mild cognitive impairment reversible?

Some people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) may remain stable or even improve, no longer showing any signs or symptoms.​

Sometimes, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can be reversible, but this very much depends on the cause. For example, simply changing medications may be enough to improve cognition if the cause of MCI is due to hormonal disorders or is a side effect of taking certain medication.​

If MCI results from a head injury that produces a brain haematoma (blood accumulated in the brain), memory function may recover after the blood is removed, within weeks of the injury.​

If depression is the main cause for MCI symptoms, then effective treatment for depression will be required before cognition improves. If the brain lacks energy because it cannot use glucose as well as it used to, it needs a different source of fuel. This could be provided by ketones which are substances made when the body breaks down fat for energy.​

Talk to a doctor if you believe you or someone close to you is experiencing MCI symptoms. Visiting a doctor is important to confirm the underlying cause of MCI, the signs and symptoms, to receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment.​