Do you find yourself forgetting things more often? Or do you find concentrating increasingly difficult. You might be experiencing signs of cognitive impairment. While many people think these symptoms are a normal part of aging, cognitive impairment is not a normal part of aging.

So what is cognitive impairment, and how can you reduce your risk?

What is cognitive impairment in seniors?

Cognitive impairment occurs when you have problems remembering things, concentrating, making decisions and solving problems.
Cognitive impairment can cause changes in behaviour, difficulty controlling your emotions and trouble communicating with others
There are two types of cognitive impairment. Amnestic Cognitive Impairment mainly affects your memory, although your thinking may also be impacted. Amnestic cognitive impairment may cause you to:

• Forget important information: Amnestic Cognitive Impairment may cause individuals to forget important information such as dates and appointments.
• Lose things

Non-Amnestic Cognitive Impairment affects your thinking skills more than your memory. Those with Non-Amnestic Cognitive Impairment may experience:
• Difficulties with language
• Trouble paying attention
• Difficulty in making decisions
• Changes in visual perception: This may make it harder to judge distances and identify objects, especially if they are the same colour as their surroundings.

What are the causes of cognitive impairment?

• Dementia
• Delirium
• Depression: Depression may cause seniors to withdraw from social activities. This can have negative consequences for their cognitive functioning.
• Stroke
• Medication side effects

What is the relationship between cognitive impairment and dementia?

While some of the symptoms of cognitive impairment may be similar to dementia, typically cognitive impairment is less severe than dementia. Many people with cognitive impairment are able to maintain their independence.

However, cognitive impairment may be an early sign that you have dementia. Additionally, those with cognitive impairment are three to five times more likely to develop dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease. Despite this, experiencing cognitive impairment does not necessarily mean you will get dementia.

How can you prevent cognitive impairment?

The best way to prevent or reduce the impact of cognitive impairment is by looking after your physical and mental health. You can do this by:
• Keeping physically active: Incorporating regular exercise into your weekly routine is essential. This can be as simple as going for a short walk.
• Eating a balanced diet: Eating well as we get older is not always easy. However, maintaining a proper diet helps maintain your nutrition, which reduces the risk of cognitive impairment.
• Keeping a healthy weight: Excess weight can have negative impacts for cognitive functioning.
• Remaining socially engaged: Social activity helps stimulate your brain, helping to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. Therefore, as we age, it’s more important than ever to stay in touch with family and friends. Consider joining interest groups or clubs to meet new people.
• Limiting alcohol and cigarette consumption
• Getting adequate sleep: Make sure you are getting an adequate night’s sleep. If you are experiencing difficulty sleeping, you should speak to your doctor.

Successfully managing existing medical conditions, including depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure, can also reduce your risk of developing cognitive impairment.

If you think you or a loved one may be experiencing cognitive impairment, speak to your doctor. Various early interventions are available to reduce the impact of cognitive impairment.

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Article References

Dementia Australia (n.d.) ‘Mild Cognitive Impairment’, Dementia Australia, accessed 14 April 2025.

Health Direct (n.d) ‘Cognitive Impairment’, Health Direct, accessed 14 April 2025.