Elderly who feel low may be at risk of mild cognitive impairment: Study

A decline in psychological well-being, particularly in areas like purpose in life and personal growth, in old age may precede the development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) — a common precursor to dementia, according to new research. The study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, indicates that these aspects of well-being start deteriorating two to six years before an MCI diagnosis, even when no cognitive symptoms are evident, and this decline occurs regardless of whether the individual later develops dementia. The research also found that while psychological well-being declined at a similar rate before and after the MCI diagnosis, meaningful connections with others deteriorated more rapidly after the diagnosis.