Tips for living with mild cognitive impairment

Yes, it is possible to live independently with mild cognitive impairment, that middle ground between normal cognition and dementia.

The key is creating structure and using visual cues to help your memory, says Hayley Kristinsson, PsyD, a neuropsychologist at UCI Health Psychiatry Services and an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at UC Irvine School of Medicine.

“Such strategies help your brain stay organized so you spend less time worrying about what you might forget and more time focusing on what’s important to you,” she says.

Tips to assist memory

Kristinsson’s basic strategies include:

• Keep things in the same place. For example, set up a small area near the door for your keys, purse, mail and to-do list. Everything you need when you go out (or come home) stays in one reliable place
• Use visual reminders. Post a calendar, checklist or whiteboard where you will see it every day, places such as the kitchen or by the front door. Have a writing tool handy to chart appointments, chores and errands.
• Reduce clutter. Keep countertops and tables clear so that important items (like notes or pill organizers) are easy to see. Too much clutter makes it difficult to focus and find important items.
• Link new habits to old routines. Pair tasks with things you already do. For example, take your medication while making your morning coffee or brushing your teeth.
• Use color and labels. Colorful sticky notes, labels on drawers or a red folder for important documents can help things stand out and make them easier to find.
• Create a consistent routine. Wake up at the same time each day and do the same activities in the same order. Complete the most difficult tasks early in the day when attention is highest and fatigue is low.

Using digital tools effectively

There are many useful digital tools that are simple to use and can make daily life easier, Kristinsson says.

“You don’t need to be tech savvy to use them as many are designed to be intuitive and supportive.”

They include:

• Built-in phone alarms.
• Calendar and reminder phone apps.
• Voice-activated devices to read your calendar aloud or answer quick questions.
• Smart pillboxes that light up when it’s time for a dose.
• Tracking devices to help locate misplaced items quickly.
• Digital photo frames, which can display the date and time in large, clear letters.
• Navigation apps not only help with safe driving, but they can let your family see your location if you agree to share it.

Managing and reducing clutter

Organizing your environment is essential, Kristinsson says.

“Keeping your home environment organized and as clutter-free as possible is very important when memory or attention skills are not as strong as they used to be. A tidy, simplified space makes it easier for your brain to focus and to notice important cues without getting overwhelmed by distractions.”

That means:

• Keeping only essential items in view
• Storing other items in labeled bins and drawers
• Creating “clear zones” for important tasks like paying bills, preparing meals or taking medications
• Reducing visual distractions, such as piles of paper or multiple open windows on the computer
• Limiting noise distractions, such as television or music in the background

“The goal is to make your environment calmer, simpler and easier to navigate so your energy can go toward remembering and enjoying your day.”

Exercising the brain

Keeping the brain nimble is important, too.

“Cognitive exercise is important for maintaining good mental functioning throughout the lifespan,” Kristinsson notes.

But she cautions that many brain exercises in workbooks, apps and on websites are stimulation, not treatment. The key is choosing an activity that is challenging, but not so difficult it can’t be completed.

In general, she says, computerized games, reading and crossword puzzles are all acceptable. Numerous workbooks, puzzles and so-called “brain games” may also provide some benefit, though the jury is still out.

“Although these activities are now being more rigorously investigated, there really isn’t any current strong evidence that they can actually prevent disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.”